’But what other news is there? Can we soon go out of this room? It is
so cool under the trees, whilst here we are so hot, and everything is
miserable,’ said poor Felipa, who felt the burden of her life greater
than she could bear now her father was away and Carlo in prison, and she
herself was not far removed from being a prisoner.
’I fancy, Señorita, that in a few days Captain Morgan will have decided
something. He found great difficulty to-day in preventing his men
scattering themselves after booty. All the main forts are in his hands,
and he is busy ordering the removal of guns and ammunition to the fleet;
and those who will show him hidden treasure get a title to his favour.
You can see some of the ships from the windows of this castle. As soon
as he can finish this work, I expect he will set sail. He does say he
will not leave a musket in the island; but I fancy some of the negroes
have already hidden away powder and muskets, for the men are inclined to
handle them too roughly.’
’They may take all the guns they like,’ said Catalina impatiently, ’if
they will release the Señorito Carlo to me. I wish I could hang up
these villains on our tall groogroos!’
’Unfortunately the man who has the key of the Señorito’s dungeon has
gone away to the other island,’ said Harry, ’but as I passed by the gate
just now an old man asked me if I would tell the nurse Catalina that the
young Señor was not so fast locked but that she could get at him if she
so wished. I know not what he meant, but I thanked him for his good
offices.’
At this Catalina clapped her hands, saying that Pedro was more cunning
than he seemed to be, and that Carlo need not now starve; but no one
understood her.
’It is close on sunset,’ said Harry to Etta, ’and if you are going to
keep your appointment with the Indian, I would like to come with you. I
suppose you are sure he is to be trusted, for some of these Indians are
none too brave, our men say, and fly like crows when they smell powder.’
’Andreas! Yes, indeed, he loves Carlo as his own son. They often have
gone hunting together.’
So the two returned softly to the place of meeting at the window above
the verandah, and, after waiting till the sun had sunk and darkness had
suddenly come on, they heard the sound of soft whistling, and in another
moment Andreas had swung himself over the balcony and stood by their
side.
Etta seized his hand.
’Good Andreas, do you know all our misfortunes? Señor Carlo is still in
the dungeon, the Marquis has gone to deliver up some guns, and if it
were not for this kind friend we should be almost forsaken.’
Andreas made a low salutation, but, all the same, eyed Harry rather
suspiciously.
’Do not be afraid,’ continued Etta; ’he is a prisoner as we are, and
will help us. Look, Andreas, could you manage to escape and take this
note of the Señorita Felipa to her uncle at the Castle of Chagres? He
would bring us help if he knew how badly we wanted it.’
Andreas shook his head.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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