Fiction > Book editions > London, 1885 - Dynamiter

THE FAIR CUBAN. 157
' She has seen them ! ' he cried, and I could see by
his face, that my audacity was justified by its success.
I caught his hand in mine. ' My master,' said I, ' I
am now yours ; it is my duty, it should be my pleasure,
to defend your interests and life. Hear my advice, then ;
and, I conjure you, be guided by my prudence. Follow
me privily ; let none see where we are going ; I will
lead you to the place where the treasure has been buried ;
that once disinterred, let us make straight for the boat,
escape to the mainland, and not return to this dangerous
isle without the countenance of soldiers.'
What free man in a free land, would have credited so
sudden a devotion 1 But this oppressor, through the very
arts and sophistries he had abused, to quiet the rebellion
of his conscience and to convince himself that slavery
was natural, fell like a child into the trap I laid for him.
He praised and thanked me ; told me I had all the quali-
ties he valued in a servant ; and when he had questioned
me further as to the nature and value of the treasure, and
I had once more artfully inflamed his greed, bade me
without delay, proceed to carry out my plan of action.
From a shed in the garden, I took a pick and shovel ;
and thence, by devious paths among the magnolias, led my
master to the entrance of the swamp. I walked first,
carrying, as I was now in duty bound, the tools, and
glancing continually behind me, lest we should be spied
upon and followed. When Ave were come as far as the
beginning of the path, it flashed into my mind I had for-
gotten meat ; and leaving Mr. Caulder in the shadow of
a tree, I returned alone to the house for a basket of pro-
visions. Were they for him ? I asked myself. And a
voice within me answered, Ko. While we were face to
face, while I still saw before my eyes the man to whom I
belonged as the hand belongs to the body, my indignation
held me bravely up. But now that I was alone, I con-
ceived a sickness at myself and my designs that I could
scarce endure ; I longed to throw myself at his feet,
avow my intended treachery, and warn him from that
pestilential sv/amp, to which I was decoying him to die ;
but my vow to my dead father, my duty to my innocent