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murmuring of haste with weary and feverish pertinacity； I
hurried at once to take my place at table； but I had no
sooner left his arm than he paused and thrust forth both his
hands with a strange gesture of groping。 'How is this？' he
cried； in a sharp； unhuman voice。 'Am I blind？' I ran to
him and tried to lead him to the table； but he resisted and
stood stiffly where he was； opening and shutting his jaws； as
if in a painful effort after breath。 Then suddenly he raised
both hands to his temples； cried out； 'My head； my head！' and
reeled and fell against the wall。
I knew too well what it must be。 I turned and begged the
servants to relieve him。 But they； with one accord； denied
the possibility of hope； the master had gone into the swamp；
they said； the master must die； all help was idle。 Why
should I dwell upon his sufferings？ I had him carried to a
bed； and watched beside him。 He lay still； and at times
ground his teeth； and talked at times unintelligibly； only
that one word of hurry； hurry； coming distinctly to my ears；
and telling me that； even in the last struggle with the
powers of death； his mind was still tortured by his
daughter's peril。 The sun had gone down； the darkness had
fallen； when I perceived that I was alone on this unhappy
earth。 What thought had I of flight； of safety； of the
impending dangers of my situation？ Beside the body of my
last friend； I had forgotten all except the natural pangs of
my bereavement。
The sun was some four hours above the eastern line； when I
was recalled to a knowledge of the things of earth； by the
entrance of the slave…girl to whom I have already referred。
The poor soul was indeed devotedly attached to me； and it was
with streaming tears that she broke to me the import of her
coming。 With the first light of dawn a boat had reached our
landing…place； and set on shore upon our isle （till now so
fortunate） a party of officers bearing a warrant to arrest my
father's person； and a man of a gross body and low manners；
who declared the island； the plantation； and all its human
chattels； to be now his own。 'I think；' said my slave…girl；
'he must be a politician or some very powerful sorcerer； for
Madam Mendizabal had no sooner seen them coming； than she
took to the woods。'
'Fool；' said I； 'it was the officers she feared； and at any
rate why does that beldam still dare to pollute the island
with her presence？ And O Cora；' I exclaimed； remembering my
grief； 'what matter all these troubles to an orphan？'
'Mistress；' said she； 'I must remind you of two things。
Never speak as you do now of Madam Mendizabal； or never to a
person of colour； for she is the most powerful woman in this
world； and her real name even； if one durst pronounce it；
were a spell to raise the dead。 And whatever you do； speak
no more of her to your unhappy Cora； for though it is
possible she may be afraid of the police （and indeed I think
that I have heard she is in hiding）； and though I know that
you will laugh and not believe； yet it is true； and proved；
and known that she hears every word that people utter in this
whole vast world； and your poor Cora is already deep enough
in her black books。 She looks at me； mistress； till my blood
turns ice。 That is the first I had to say； and now for the
second： do； pray； for Heaven's sake； bear in mind that you
are no longer the poor Senor's daughter。 He is gone； dear
gentleman； and now you are no more than a common slave…girl
like myself。 The man to whom you belong calls for you； oh；
my dear mistress； go at once！ With your youth and beauty；
you may still； if you are winning and obedient； secure
yourself an easy life。'
For a moment I looked on the creature with the indignation
you may conceive； the next； it was gone： she did but speak
after her kind； as the bird sings or cattle bellow。 'Go；'
said I。 'Go； Cora。 I thank you for your kind intentions。
Leave me alone one moment with my dead father； and tell this
man that I will come at once。'
She went： and I； turning to the bed of death； addressed to
those deaf ears the last appeal and defence of my beleaguered
innocence。 'Father；' I said； 'it was your last thought； even
in the pangs of dissolution； that your daughter should escape
disgrace。 Here； at your side； I swear to you that purpose
shall be carried out； by what means； I know not； by crime； if
need be； and Heaven forgive both you and me and our
oppressors； and Heaven help my helplessness！' Thereupon I
felt strengthened as by long repose； stepped to the mirror；
ay； even in that chamber of the dead； hastily arranged my
hair； refreshed my tear…worn eyes； breathed a dumb farewell
to the originator of my days and sorrows； and composing my
features to a smile； went forth to meet my master。
He was in a great； hot bustle； reviewing that house； once
ours； to which he had but now succeeded； a corpulent；
sanguine man of middle age； sensual； vulgar； humorous； and；
if I judged rightly； not ill…disposed by nature。 But the
sparkle that came into his eye as he observed me enter；
warned me to expect the worst。
'Is this your late mistress？' he inquired of the slaves； and
when he had learnt it was so； instantly dismissed them。
'Now； my dear；' said he； 'I am a plain man： none of your
damned Spaniards； but a true blue； hard…working； honest
Englishman。 My name is Caulder。'
'Thank you； sir；' said I； and curtsied very smartly as I had
seen the servants。
'Come；' said he； 'this is better than I had expected； and if
you choose to be dutiful in the station to which it has
pleased God to call you； you will find me a very kind old
fellow。 I like your looks；' he added； calling me by my name；
which he scandalously mispronounced。 'Is your hair all your
own？' he then inquired with a certain sharpness； and coming
up to me； as though I were a horse； he grossly satisfied his
doubts。 I was all one flame from head to foot； but I
contained my righteous anger and submitted。 'That is very
well；' he continued； chucking me good humouredly under the
chin。 'You will have no cause to regret coming to old
Caulder； eh？ But that is by the way。 What is more to the
point is this： your late master was a most dishonest rogue；
and levanted with some valuable property that belonged of
rights to me。 Now； considering your relation to him； I
regard you as the likeliest person to know what has become of
it； and I warn you； before you answer； that my whole future
kindness will depend upon your honesty。 I am an honest man
myself； and expect the same in my servants。'
'Do you mean the jewels？' said I； sinking my voice into a
whisper。
'That is just precisely what I do；' said he； and chuckled。
'Hush！' said I。
'Hush？' he repeated。 'And why hush？ I am on my own place； I
would have you to know； and surrounded by my own lawful
servants。'
'Are the officers gone？' I asked； and oh！ how my hopes hung
upon the answer！
'They are；' said he； looking somewhat disconcerted。 'Why do
you ask？'
'I wish you had kept them；' I answered； solemnly enough；
alth