"Your name?" I inquired, as I saw the youth was about to depart.
"I am called Powell by the whites: my father"s name--he was white--he is dead. My mother still lives; I need not say she is an Indian."
"I must be gone, sir," continued he after a pause. "Before I leave you, permit me to put a question. It may appear impertinent, but I have good reason for asking it. Have you among your slaves one who is very bad, one who is hostile to your family?"
"There is such a one. I have reason to believe it."
"Would you know his tracks?"
"I should."
"Then follow me!"
"It is not necessary. I can guess where you would lead me. I know all: he lured the alligator hither to destroy my sister."
"Ugh!" exclaimed the young Indian, in some surprise. "How learned you this, sir?"
"From yonder rock, I was a witness of the whole transaction. But how did _you_ come to know of it?" I asked in turn.
"Only by following the trail--the man--the dog--the alligator. I was hunting by the swamp. I saw the tracks. I suspected something, and crossed the fields. I had reached the thicket when I heard cries. I was just in time. Ugh!"
"You were in good time, else the villain would have succeeded in his intent. Fear not, friend, he shall be punished."
"Good--he should be punished. I hope you and I may meet again."
A few words more were exchanged between us, and then we shook hands, and parted.
CHAPTER ELEVEN.
THE CHASE.
About the guilt of the mulatto, I had no longer any doubt. The mere destruction of the fish could not have been his design; he would never have taken such pains to accomplish so trifling a purpose. No; his intent was far more horrid; it comprehended a deeper scheme of cruelty and vengeance; its aim was my sister"s life!--Viola"s!--perhaps both?
Awful as was such a belief, there was no room left to doubt it; every circ.u.mstance confirmed it. Even the young Indian had formed the opinion that such was the design. At this season, my sister was in the habit of bathing almost every day; and that this was her custom was known to all upon the plantation. _I_ had not thought of it when I went in pursuit of the deer, else I should in all probability have acted in a different manner. But who could have suspected such dire villainy?
The cunning of the act quite equalled its malice. By the merest accident, there were witnesses; but had there been none, it is probable the event would have answered the intention, and my sister"s life been sacrificed.
Who could have told the author of the crime? The reptile would have been alone responsible. Even suspicion would not have rested upon the mulatto--how could it? The yellow villain had shown a fiendish craft in his calculation.
I was burning with indignation. My poor innocent sister! Little did she know the foul means that had been made use of to put her in such peril. She was aware that the mulatto liked her not, but never dreamed she that she was the object of such a demoniac spite as this.
The very thoughts of it fired me as I dwelt upon them. I could restrain myself no longer. The criminal must be brought to punishment, and at once. Some severe castigation must be inflicted upon him--something that would place it beyond his power to repeat such dangerous attempts.
How he would be dealt with, I could not tell--that must be left to my elders to determine. The lash had proved of no avail; perhaps the chain-gang would cure him--at all events, he must be banished the plantation.
In my own mind, I had not doomed him to death, though truly he deserved it. Indignant as I felt, I did not contemplate this ultimate punishment of crime; used to my father"s mild rule, I did not. The lash--the county prison--the chain-gang at Saint Marks or San Augustine: some of these would likely be his reward.
I knew it would not be left to the lenient disposition of my father to decide. The whole community of planters was interested in a matter of this kind. An improvised jury would soon a.s.semble. No doubt harsher judges than his own master would deal with the guilty man.
I stayed not longer to reflect; I was determined his trial should be immediate. I ran towards the house with the intention of declaring his guilt.
In my haste, as before, I did not follow the usual path, which was somewhat circ.u.mambient: I made direct through the grove.
I had advanced only a few paces, when I heard a rustling of the leaves near me. I could see no one, but felt sure that the noise was caused by some person skulking among the trees. Perhaps one of the field-hands, taking advantage of the confusion of the hour, and helping himself to a few oranges.
Compared with my purpose, such slight dereliction was a matter of no importance, and I did not think worth while to stay and hinder it. I only shouted out; but no one made answer, and I kept on.
On arriving at the rear of the house, I found my father in the enclosure by the grand shed--the overseer too. Old Hickman, the alligator-hunter, was there, and one or two other white men, who had casually come upon business.
In the presence of all, I made the disclosure; and, with as much minuteness as the time would permit, described the strange transaction I had witnessed in the morning.
All were thunderstruck. Hickman at once declared the probability of such a manoeuvre, though no one doubted my words. The only doubt was as to the mulatto"s intent. Could it have been human lives he designed to sacrifice? It seemed too great a wickedness to be believed. It was too horrible even to be imagined!
At that moment all doubts were set at rest. Another testimony was added to mine, which supplied the link of proof that was wanting. Black Jake had a tale to tell, and told it.
That morning--but half an hour before--he had seen Yellow Jake climb up into a live-oak that stood in one corner of the enclosure. The top of this commanded a view of the pond. It was just at the time that "white missa" and Viola went to the bath. He was quite sure that about that time they must have been going into the water, and that Yellow Jake _must have seen them_.
Indignant at his indecorous conduct, the black had shouted to the mulatto to come down from the tree, and threatened to complain upon him.
The latter made answer that he was only gathering acorns--the acorns of the live-oak are sweet food, and much sought after by the plantation-people. Black Jake, however, was positive that this could not be Yellow Jake"s purpose; for the former still continuing to threaten, the latter at length came down, and Black Jake saw no acorns-- not one!
"Twan"t acorn he war arter, Ma.s.sa Randoff: daat yaller loafa wan"t arter no good--daat he wan"t sure sartin."
So concluded the testimony of the groom.
The tale produced conviction in the minds of all. It was no longer possible to doubt of the mulatto"s intention, horrible as it was. He had ascended the tree to be witness of the foul deed; he had seen them enter the basin; he knew the danger that was lurking in its waters; and yet he had made no movement to give the alarm. On the contrary, he was among the last who had hastened towards the pond, when the screaming of the girls was summoning all the household to their a.s.sistance. This was shown by the evidence of others. The case was clear against him.
The tale produced a wild excitement. White men and black men, masters and slaves, were equally indignant at the horrid crime; and the cry went round the yard for "Yellow Jake!"
Some ran one way, some another, in search of him--black, white, and yellow ran together--all eager in the pursuit--all desirous that such a monster should be brought to punishment.
Where was he? His name was called aloud, over and over again, with commands, with threats; but no answer came back. Where was he?
The stables were searched, the shed, the kitchen, the cabins--even the corn-crib was ransacked--but to no purpose. Where had he gone?
He had been observed but the moment before--he had a.s.sisted in dragging the alligator. The men had brought it into the enclosure, and thrown it to the hogs to be devoured. Yellow Jake had been with them, active as any at the work. It was but the moment before he had gone away; but where? No one could tell!
At this moment, I remembered the rustling among the orange-trees. It might have been he! If so, he may have overheard the conversation between the young Indian and myself--or the last part of it--and if so, he would now be far away.
I led the pursuit through the orangery: its recesses were searched; he was not there.
The hommock thickets were next entered, and beaten from one end to the other; still no signs of the missing mulatto.
It occurred to me to climb up to the rock, my former place of observation. I ascended at once to its summit, and was rewarded for my trouble. At the first glance over the fields, I saw the fugitive. He was down between the rows of the indigo plants, crawling upon hands and knees, evidently making for the maize.
I did not stay to observe further, but springing back to the ground, I ran after him. My father, Hickman, and others followed me.