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Watch and Wait; The Young Fugitives

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<hr />[Pg 220] <h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> <h2>PREPARING FOR THE VOYAGE.</h2> The deep silence which pervaded the camp was first broken by Dan. He woke slowly from his profound slumbers, looked about him for a moment, then glanced at Cyd, who, contrary to his usual custom, did not snore. Every thing was still; his ear was not saluted with the sharp crack of a slave-hunter's rifle, and no curses disturbed the solemn silence of the place. Every thing seemed to be secure, and he wondered that the enemy had not yet appeared. He was tempted to turn over and go to sleep, for he still felt very weary, and his repose had not restored his wonted vigor. But he concluded to go on deck, as every prudent skipper should, before he finished his nap. Rising leisurely from his bunk, he made his way to the standing room where he was [Pg 221]almost paralyzed at the discovery of Lily lying apparently dead upon the floor. Dan was prompt and decided in action; and taking the insensible girl in his arms, he placed her upon the cushioned seat. Tremulous with emotion, he bent over her to ascertain whether his worst fears were to be realized. Her heart beat; there was life, and there was hope. "Cyd! Cyd!" shouted he, in tones which would have roused a sleepier boy than his fellow-fugitive, and which, had it been heard a quarter of an hour sooner, would have brought the slave-hunters upon them. Cyd leaped from his couch as the imperative tones of Dan reached his ears, fully believing that the enemy, for whom they had been so patiently preparing, was upon them. Seizing a gun which lay upon the table, he rushed aft, ready to do his share in the impending battle. "Wha—wha—whar's de nigger-hunters?" demanded he, furiously. "They are not here; there is no danger," replied Dan, calmly, as he continued to rub the temples of Lily. [Pg 222]"Possifus! Wha—wha—what's de matter wid Missy Lily?" cried he, as soon as he saw the insensible form of the maiden. "Bring me a pitcher of water, Cyd." "Is she dead?" gasped the poor fellow, as he obtained a better view of the pale face of Lily. "No, no; bring me the water—quick." Cyd obeyed the order, and Dan sprinkled her face with the contents of the pitcher. He then left her for a moment to procure some lavender in her cabin. Though not a very skilful nurse, he had seen a lady faint, and knew what to do upon such an emergency. He applied the lavender and the cold water so vigorously, and yet so tenderly, that Lily soon began to show signs of returning consciousness. "What's de matter wid her?" demanded Cyd for the tenth time, for Dan was too busy to waste time in answering idle questions. "She is better," mused Dan, as he pushed back the curls that had strayed forward upon the patient's face. "Hossifus! Dis chile knows what ails Missy Lily," continued Cyd, opening his mouth to the [Pg 223]utmost of its tension, and exhibiting all its wealth of ivory. "What's the matter with you, Cyd? Shut your mouth, and behave like a decent man," added Dan, rebuking the levity of his companion. "Gossifus! Dis chile knows all about dat; been dar hisself," chuckled Cyd. "Dis chile neber tink Missy Lily drink too much whiskey." "Silence! you rascal! How dare you think such a thing!" replied Dan, sternly; for he was vexed enough to pitch Cyd overboard for indulging in such a suspicion. "Mossifus! Dat's jus de way dis chile was." "Silence! She has fainted. She is better now. See! She is opening her eyes." Dan continued to bathe the temples of Lily with lavender till her consciousness returned, and the terrible incident which had preceded her fainting was present to her mind. Suddenly, as Dan left her for a moment, she sprang upon her feet, and rushed to the place where she had stood gazing at the approaching boat. "Where are they?" gasped she. [Pg 224]"Lie down again, Lily. You are too weak to stand," interposed Dan, as he put his arms around her waist to support her. "Where are they? O, we are all lost!" exclaimed she. "What do you mean by lost?" "Where are they?" "Who, Lily? What is the matter with you?" "Haven't you seen them, Dan?" "Seen whom?" "The slave-hunters!" gasped Lily. "I haven't seen any one," replied Dan, calmly; for he began to fear that the mind of his fair charge was affected. "They are here—close by us, Dan. We shall all be taken." "There is no danger, Lily. We are perfectly safe. Be calm, my dear. You have been dreaming." "No, I have not been dreaming. I haven't even been asleep. It was all real; but I have been a faithless sentinel." "Now you are better, Lily, tell me all about it," continued Dan, seating her upon the cushions. [Pg 225]Lily related the incident which had transpired while her companions were asleep below; but Dan could hardly believe so strange a story, and insisted that she must have dropped asleep and dreamed it. "I know I was not asleep." "Why didn't you call me?" "I was afraid that some noise might attract the attention of the slave-hunters, and I deferred it till I was sure they would discover us. Then I was creeping on the floor, so that they should not see me, to the cabin, when I fainted." "Hossifus!" gasped Cyd, appalled at the narrow escape of the party. "Don't you believe me, Dan? I am very sure I was not asleep," added Lily, earnestly. Dan was compelled to believe the story, and he shuddered as he thought of the peril that had menaced them while they were all so helpless. Though he concluded that it was not safe to trust Lily on the watch, he did not utter a word of reproof to her for not calling him sooner. "You think I did wrong, Dan, not to call you. I know you do, though you will not blame me." [Pg 226]"I can't help thinking what might have happened if the slave-hunters had found us while we were all asleep," replied Dan, seriously. "But I will not blame you, Lily." "The slave-hunters did not find us. I think it was all for the best, Dan, that I fainted." "Indeed?" "If I had waked you and Cyd, you might have made a noise that would have exposed us," answered Lily, very solemnly. "I think it was the good God that took my strength away in order to preserve us all." "It may be; but I had rather be awake when there is any danger." "If you had been awake, you might have been shot; and then what would have become of us?" Lily was fully satisfied that her fainting was a special providence, which had saved them all from capture or death. Dan was not so clear upon this point, and resolved never to sleep again when there was a possibility of an attack. For several weeks after these exciting incidents, all the fugitives confined themselves to the Isabel and the [Pg 227]islands on either side of her. Indeed, between Dan and Cyd, it was about enough for them to do the necessary work, and keep "watch and watch" during the day and night. As nothing more was seen or heard of the slave-hunters, they concluded that the search had been abandoned, and they soon ceased to dread their approach. Dan ventured to hunt again, and every thing went off as before, though all the party missed Quin very much. The autumn passed away; the winter came, and then the spring. If our space would permit us to record the daily life of the young fugitives while they remained in the swamp, it would, no doubt, be interesting to our readers; and for their sake, no less than for our own, we regret that our limits do not admit of this lengthened narrative. They had many trials from cold and storms, from high water in the bayous and low water in the casks, from alligators and buzzards; but they lived through it all. Lily was sick a fortnight, and Dan a week; their fuel gave out in the coldest of the weather; and an alligator bit off the heel of Cyd's boots; and a hundred other events occurred which would bear an extended [Pg 228]recital; but we turn from them, with regret, to the closing events in the career of the young fugitives. With the high water in April, Dan and Cyd went to work, in the most vigorous manner, to prepare the Isabel for the uncertain sea voyage which was before her. After a month of hard labor she was rigged, the sails bent, her water casks filled, a supply of fuel put in the fore hold, and the remaining stores conveniently stowed for the cruise. On the fifteenth of May every thing was in readiness; the obstructions in the channel were removed; and at sunset, with a smashing breeze, the Isabel hauled out of the channel, and commenced her voyage. <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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