CHAPTER XXXI.
WE THINK THE WORST OF OUR TROUBLES ARE OVER; BUT THEY ARE NOT.
Before we departed from that place I wounded the milk-tree in diversplaces, and, with Lady Biddy's help, drew off nigh upon half a gallon ofjuice, with which we filled a small keg which, as luck would have it,the seamen had left in the locker. Also I cut a fan-shaped palmetto-leafwith a long stem for Lady Biddy to protect her head, and likewise I gota leaf for my own crown, tying it under my chin with that sling I had inmy pocket, for though the sun was now sinking this heat was prodigious.Then, with our store of provisions in the locker, we slipped out withthe current--the tide of the sea being yet at ebb--and passing the barcame into the open water, which was as smooth and fair as the sky above.
Looking about us we were comforted to perceive no boat nor any sign ofour enemy nearer than the black ship, which lay best part of twoleagues, as I judged, to the east. This distance I strove to increase bylaying vigorously on to my oars and making for the west; but by keepingtoo close in shore I ran presently on a sandbank; and, getting off that,grounded shortly after on a second; and thence on a third; till atlength, seeing that I made less speed than haste, I was compelled topull out a quarter of a mile or more for deeper water, and so get freeof those plaguy sands.
However, I was consoled for the loss of time and my discomfort by thepleasure of Lady Biddy, as we thus again obtained a view of the majesticmountains I have spoken of. Indeed, I was fain to lose another fiveminutes, resting on my oars, and looking over my shoulder at the superbspectacle; for the sun, being now in its decline, did light up thesemountains so that they were glorious to behold. Some of the peaks burntand sparkled like cut diamonds--indeed, they may have been crystal, forall I know to the contrary--while others shot up like tongues of flame,as if the sun by its near approach had set them afire; then thosefurther from his course shone all rosy, pink with shadows of tenderviolet.
Lower down, their sides glowed with rich shades of purple, yet paintedover with a soft bloom like any plum. As for the valley below, 'twaslike naught in the world but a great maze of lilac-bushes, by reason ofthe flowering trees.
Quitting this prospect I scanned the sea very closely, yet could I seenothing like a sail of any kind, which made me doubt whether there layany town in those parts we were coming to; for if there were, then mostlikely would there be fishers; and with a smooth sea and a gentle air,they surely would be abroad casting nets at this time. This raised asecret joy in my heart; but, Lord! when I glanced back at thoseincredibly high mountains, I was awed by the vastness of the wildernessin which we must somewhere make a dwelling-place.
To make up for lost time I now bent my back to the work before me, androwed on very steadily, only casting my eye round over my shoulder fromtime to time for my guidance. Lady Biddy was very thoughtful and grave,as if she likewise was impressed with awe by the aspect of those vastmountains. Moreover, she was recovering that strength and composure ofmind which enabled her to gauge her condition justly, as I had foreseen;and this she could not do without perceiving how slender was the threadof hope that held her from despair. But, despite the return of strength,there was more in her heart than she could bear; and when she had beensitting in silence thus some while, she turned her head aside, as if toscan the shore, but it was that I should not see her eyes. Presently shestole her hand up and gently wiped away a tear that was stealing downher cheek, and I saw a movement of her fair throat, as though she werechoking down a sob. And this so moved me that I had much ado to keepfrom weeping in sympathy.
She gave another little gulp, and pushed again the tear from hercheek--poor soul, she had no handkerchief; and then with an effort turnsto me, and, seeing my long face, laughed faintly, though her eyes wereyet full.
"We're better off than we were this time yesterday," says I ascheerfully as I could, but with a horrid thick voice.
"Ay," says she, "and 'tis ungrateful and foolish to forget it."
"Why, as for that," says I, "a scald will smart none the less for yourgetting out of hot water. But 'tis a comfort to know that we are notlikely to get into the same broth again, and may reasonably hope to berelieved of our pain in time, and not long neither, which will give uspatience to endure our present ills."
"I will be patient; indeed I will," says she earnestly. "'Tis the leastI can do in return for your goodness, Benet."
"Let us talk of something else," says I.
"Can you make any guess as to where we are?" she asks presently.
"Ay," says I, with as stout a voice as if I were telling the truth, "Imake no question of our whereabouts, or I should not have spoken sohopefully."
"But you did not seem to know before we started"--with a shrewd glance.
"No, for then I could not see the run of the mountains. Now, when welanded before supper I could not have sworn but we were in Campeachy, orHonduras, or the Isle of Cuba."
"How could you know after we had eaten?" says she.
"Because our thirst led to the discovery of the milk-tree. Then I knewwe must be in Guiana, for they grow nowhere else"; adding to myself,"for aught I know."
A little smile of satisfaction played about her face; then she askedeagerly:
"And what have you learnt by the run of the mountains?"
"Why, that we can't be many miles from the Gulf of Paria. For, if youwill recall Sir Bartlemy's chart to mind, you will remember that theonly mountains in Guiana that run by the sea are there."
"What part of the chart, Benet?" says she, knitting her brows.
"Up at the top, against Trinidado."
"Oh! I remember," said she, clapping her hands joyfully. "Why, that isclose to where you left--left _him_!"
"Yes," says I; "and the very place Sir Bartlemy will go to refit, if Iknow aught about the matter."
In this way did I bring her round to a more cheerful temper and aforgetfulness of her position. Nay, I almost cheated myself in trying todeceive her. For, to tell the truth, I had no honest opinion that wewere near Paria, else had we seen by this time Margarita, or some ofthose isles thereabouts. Rather I was inclined to think we were overagainst the mountains of Guayva. However, I believe we were in neitherthe one place nor the other but on the coast of Darian--these hugemountains being a spur of the Andes; and if we were not there, then Iknow not where we were.
I kept on long after the sun had set, nor would I have stayed when I didbut for the rocks which began to encumber the shore, and my fear toventure far abroad lest some current should get me into trouble.
Coming now to a kind of cove, well sheltered with rocks and convenientto abide in, as far as we could judge by the light of the stars, I threwout the grapple, which was made fast to the headline, and found it heldvery well.
This being done, we ate a second supper of turtle and milk; after whichI made up as comfortable a bed in the bottom of the boat as was to behad with no better material than the lug-sail, and induced Lady Biddy tolie down and get some sleep, promising to wake her as soon as the daybroke, and get a few hours' sleep myself whilst she kept watch.
There was just enough light for me to descry her pale face at thefurther end of the boat as she lay on the rude bed. I sat watching her,maybe two hours, thinking by her stillness she had fallen asleep; but ofa sudden, without moving, she says:
"Benet, do you think we could get there in a week?"
I answered--though with a feeling that I did wrong to encourage a falsehope--I answered, I say, that I thought we might do so.
"If we have good luck," she adds.
"Good luck we must have, for the worst is past," says I.
"Yes, I think so," says she. "Good-night."
And in this belief she fell asleep, perhaps to dream her hopes wererealized.
Alas! she was soon to be roused from that dream--soon to know that theworst was not past.
The Admirable Lady Biddy Fane Page 31