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you ask？'
'I wish you had kept them；' I answered； solemnly enough；
although my heart at that same moment leaped with exultation。
'Master； I must not conceal from you the truth。 The servants
on this estate are in a dangerous condition； and mutiny has
long been brewing。'
'Why；' he cried； 'I never saw a milder…looking lot of niggers
in my life。' But for all that he turned somewhat pale。
'Did they tell you；' I continued； 'that Madam Mendizabal is
on the island？ that； since her coming； they obey none but
her？ that if； this morning； they have received you with even
decent civility； it was only by her orders … issued with what
after…thought I leave you to consider？'
'Madam Jezebel？' said he。 'Well； she is a dangerous devil；
the police are after her； besides； for a whole series of
murders； but after all； what then？ To be sure； she has a
great influence with you coloured folk。 But what in
fortune's name can be her errand here？'
'The jewels；' I replied。 'Ah； sir； had you seen that
treasure； sapphire and emerald and opal； and the golden
topaz； and rubies red as the sunset … of what incalculable
worth； of what unequalled beauty to the eye！ … had you seen
it； as I have； and alas！ as SHE has … you would understand
and tremble at your danger。'
'She has seen them！' he cried； and I could see by his face；
that my audacity was justified by its success。
I caught his hand in mine。 'My master；' said I； 'I am now
yours； it is my duty； it should be my pleasure； to defend
your interests and life。 Hear my advice； then； and； I
conjure you； be guided by my prudence。 Follow me privily；
let none see where we are going； I will lead you to the place
where the treasure has been buried； that once disinterred；
let us make straight for the boat； escape to the mainland；
and not return to this dangerous isle without the countenance
of soldiers。'
What free man in a free land would have credited so sudden a
devotion？ But this oppressor； through the very arts and
sophistries he had abused； to quiet the rebellion of his
conscience and to convince himself that slavery was natural；
fell like a child into the trap I laid for him。 He praised
and thanked me； told me I had all the qualities he valued in
a servant； and when he had questioned me further as to the
nature and value of the treasure； and I had once more
artfully inflamed his greed； bade me without delay proceed to
carry out my plan of action。
From a shed in the garden； I took a pick and shovel； and
thence； by devious paths among the magnolias； led my master
to the entrance of the swamp。 I walked first； carrying； as I
was now in duty bound； the tools； and glancing continually
behind me； lest we should be spied upon and followed。 When
we were come as far as the beginning of the path； it flashed
into my mind I had forgotten meat； and leaving Mr。 Caulder in
the shadow of a tree； I returned alone to the house for a
basket of provisions。 Were they for him？ I asked myself。
And a voice within me answered； No。 While we were face to
face； while I still saw before my eyes the man to whom I
belonged as the hand belongs to the body； my indignation held
me bravely up。 But now that I was alone； I conceived a
sickness at myself and my designs that I could scarce endure；
I longed to throw myself at his feet； avow my intended
treachery； and warn him from that pestilential swamp； to
which I was decoying him to die； but my vow to my dead
father； my duty to my innocent youth； prevailed upon these
scruples； and though my face was pale and must have reflected
the horror that oppressed my spirits； it was with a firm step
that I returned to the borders of the swamp； and with smiling
lips that I bade him rise and follow me。
The path on which we now entered was cut； like a tunnel；
through the living jungle。 On either hand and overhead； the
mass of foliage was continuously joined； the day sparingly
filtered through the depth of super…impending wood； and the
air was hot like steam； and heady with vegetable odours； and
lay like a load upon the lungs and brain。 Underfoot； a great
depth of mould received our silent footprints； on each side；
mimosas； as tall as a man； shrank from my passing skirts with
a continuous hissing rustle； and but for these sentient
vegetables； all in that den of pestilence was motionless and
noiseless。
We had gone but a little way in； when Mr。 Caulder was seized
with sudden nausea； and must sit down a moment on the path。
My heart yearned； as I beheld him； and I seriously begged the
doomed mortal to return upon his steps。 What were a few
jewels in the scales with life？ I asked。 But no； he said；
that witch Madam Jezebel would find them out； he was an
honest man； and would not stand to be defrauded； and so
forth； panting the while； like a sick dog。 Presently he got
to his feet again； protesting he had conquered his
uneasiness； but as we again began to go forward； I saw in his
changed countenance； the first approaches of death。
'Master；' said I； 'you look pale； deathly pale； your pallor
fills me with dread。 Your eyes are bloodshot； they are red
like the rubies that we seek。'
'Wench；' he cried； 'look before you； look at your steps。 I
declare to Heaven； if you annoy me once again by looking
back； I shall remind you of the change in your position。'
A little after； I observed a worm upon the ground； and told；
in a whisper； that its touch was death。 Presently a great
green serpent； vivid as the grass in spring； wound rapidly
across the path； and once again I paused and looked back at
my companion； with a horror in my eyes。 'The coffin snake；'
said I； 'the snake that dogs its victim like a hound。'
But he was not to be dissuaded。 'I am an old traveller；'
said he。 'This is a foul jungle indeed； but we shall soon be
at an end。'
'Ay；' said I； looking at him； with a strange smile； 'what
end？'
Thereupon he laughed again and again； but not very heartily；
and then； perceiving that the path began to widen and grow
higher； 'There！' said he。 'What did I tell you？ We are past
the worst。'
Indeed； we had now come to the bayou； which was in that place
very narrow and bridged across by a fallen trunk； but on
either hand we could see it broaden out； under a cavern of
great arms of trees and hanging creepers： sluggish； putrid；
of a horrible and sickly stench； floated on by the flat heads
of alligators； and its banks alive with scarlet crabs。
'If we fall from that unsteady bridge；' said I； 'see； where
the caiman lies ready to devour us！ If； by the least
divergence from the path； we should be snared in a morass；
see； where those myriads of scarlet vermin scour the border
of the thicket！ Once helpless； how they would swarm together
to the assault！ What could man do against a thousand of such
mailed assailants？ And what a death were that； to perish
alive under their claws。'
'Are you mad； girl？' he cried。 'I bid you be silent and lead
on。'
Again I looked upon him； half relenting； and at that he
raised the stick that was in his hand and cruelly struc