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words！ … worth money。 Do you begin to see？ If I were to
give you freedom； I should defraud my creditors； the
manumission would be certainly annulled； you would be still a
slave； and I a criminal。'
I caught his hand in mine； kissed it； and moaned in pity for
myself； in sympathy for my father。
'How I have toiled；' he continued； 'how I have dared and
striven to repair my losses； Heaven has beheld and will
remember。 Its blessing was denied to my endeavours； or； as I
please myself by thinking； but delayed to descend upon my
daughter's head。 At length； all hope was at an end； I was
ruined beyond retrieve； a heavy debt fell due upon the
morrow； which I could not meet； I should be declared a
bankrupt； and my goods； my lands； my jewels that I so much
loved； my slaves whom I have spoiled and rendered happy； and
oh！ tenfold worse； you； my beloved daughter； would be sold
and pass into the hands of ignorant and greedy traffickers。
Too long； I saw； had I accepted and profited by this great
crime of slavery； but was my daughter； my innocent unsullied
daughter； was SHE to pay the price？ I cried out … no！ … I
took Heaven to witness my temptation； I caught up this bag
and fled。 Close upon my track are the pursuers； perhaps to…
night； perhaps to…morrow； they will land upon this isle；
sacred to the memory of the dear soul that bore you； to
consign your father to an ignominious prison； and yourself to
slavery and dishonour。 We have not many hours before us。
Off the north coast of our isle； by strange good fortune； an
English yacht has for some days been hovering。 It belongs to
Sir George Greville； whom I slightly know； to whom ere now I
have rendered unusual services； and who will not refuse to
help in our escape。 Or if he did； if his gratitude were in
default； I have the power to force him。 For what does it
mean； my child … what means this Englishman； who hangs for
years upon the shores of Cuba； and returns from every trip
with new and valuable gems？'
'He may have found a mine；' I hazarded。
'So he declares；' returned my father； 'but the strange gift I
have received from nature； easily transpierced the fable。 He
brought me diamonds only； which I bought； at first； in
innocence； at a second glance； I started； for of these
stones； my child； some had first seen the day in Africa； some
in Brazil； while others； from their peculiar water and rude
workmanship； I divined to be the spoil of ancient temples。
Thus put upon the scent； I made inquiries。 Oh； he is
cunning； but I was cunninger than he。 He visited； I found；
the shop of every jeweller in town； to one he came with
rubies； to one with emeralds； to one with precious beryl； to
all； with this same story of the mine。 But in what mine；
what rich epitome of the earth's surface； were there
conjoined the rubies of Ispahan； the pearls of Coromandel；
and the diamonds of Golconda？ No； child； that man； for all
his yacht and title； that man must fear and must obey me。
To…night； then； as soon as it is dark； we must take our way
through the swamp by the path which I shall presently show
you； thence； across the highlands of the isle； a track is
blazed； which shall conduct us to the haven on the north； and
close by the yacht is riding。 Should my pursuers come before
the hour at which I look to see them； they will still arrive
too late； a trusty man attends on the mainland； as soon as
they appear； we shall behold； if it be dark； the redness of a
fire； if it be day； a pillar of smoke； on the opposing
headland； and thus warned； we shall have time to put the
swamp between ourselves and danger。 Meantime； I would
conceal this bag； I would； before all things； be seen to
arrive at the house with empty hands； a blabbing slave might
else undo us。 For see！' he added； and holding up the bag；
which he had already shown me； he poured into my lap a shower
of unmounted jewels； brighter than flowers； of every size and
colour； and catching； as they fell； upon a million dainty
facets； the ardour of the sun。
I could not restrain a cry of admiration。
'Even in your ignorant eyes；' pursued my father； 'they
command respect。 Yet what are they but pebbles； passive to
the tool； cold as death？ Ingrate！' he cried。 'Each one of
these … miracles of nature's patience； conceived out of the
dust in centuries of microscopical activity； each one is； for
you and me； a year of life； liberty； and mutual affection。
How； then； should I cherish them！ and why do I delay to place
them beyond reach！ Teresa； follow me。'
He rose to his feet； and led me to the borders of the great
jungle； where they overhung； in a wall of poisonous and dusky
foliage； the declivity of the hill on which my father's house
stood planted。 For some while he skirted； with attentive
eyes； the margin of the thicket。 Then； seeming to recognise
some mark； for his countenance became immediately lightened
of a load of thought； he paused and addressed me。 'Here；'
said he； 'is the entrance of the secret path that I have
mentioned； and here you shall await me。 I but pass some
hundreds of yards into the swamp to bury my poor treasure； as
soon as that is safe； I will return。' It was in vain that I
sought to dissuade him； urging the dangers of the place； in
vain that I begged to be allowed to follow； pleading the
black blood that I now knew to circulate in my veins： to all
my appeals he turned a deaf ear； and； bending back a portion
of the screen of bushes； disappeared into the pestilential
silence of the swamp。
At the end of a full hour； the bushes were once more thrust
aside； and my father stepped from out the thicket； and paused
and almost staggered in the first shock of the blinding
sunlight。 His face was of a singular dusky red； and yet for
all the heat of the tropical noon； he did not seem to sweat。
'You are tired；' I cried； springing to meet him。 'You are
ill。'
'I am tired；' he replied； 'the air in that jungle stifles
one； my eyes； besides； have grown accustomed to its gloom；
and the strong sunshine pierces them like knives。 A moment；
Teresa； give me but a moment。 All shall yet be well。 I have
buried the hoard under a cypress； immediately beyond the
bayou； on the left…hand margin of the path； beautiful； bright
things； they now lie whelmed in slime； you shall find them
there； if needful。 But come； let us to the house； it is time
to eat against our journey of the night： to eat and then to
sleep； my poor Teresa： then to sleep。' And he looked upon
me out of bloodshot eyes； shaking his head as if in pity。
We went hurriedly； for he kept murmuring that he had been
gone too long； and that the servants might suspect； passed
through the airy stretch of the verandah； and came at length
into the grateful twilight of the shuttered house。 The meal
was spread； the house servants； already informed by the
boatmen of the master's return； were all back at their posts；
and terrified； as I could see； to face me。 My father still
murmuring of haste with weary and feverish pertinacity； I
hurried at once to take my place at tabl