of the captain made her tremble when she heard it. But to accompany him on a voyage-to be left alone with him in the ship-0, horrible! She wept bitterly-sobbed convulsively-at the reflection. She knew not her destiny, and was ignorant of his motives; but they boded her no good, she instinctively feared-and she was right! The half hour speedily passed; all the luggage was moved to the door; the girl was well wrapped up to protect her from the night air-thanks to Matilda, and she approached the parlour to take a long-a last farewell of the inmates. "Good bye, Mr. Thomas!" said the weeping girl, to the heir of the house of Carlos, extending her little hand to the invalid, as he reposed in an easy chair, with several unmistakeable marks on his face, which were now healing rapidly,-"Good bye, sir!" "Good bye, Euphemia! Take care of yourself." "Good bye, Miss Carlos," said she, addressing that lady. "Good bye, child!" said the elder sister, "I am really sorry we're going to lose you. But be a good girl-keep up your spirits-the sail on the river will be pleasant-it's a fine night—and be sure you don't catch cold!" "I am very, very sorry to leave you, Miss Matilda!" the girl said, with a gushing heart, as the tears trickled rapidly from her eyes, and vouched for the sincerity of the assertion, "I don't know where I am going, but I shall always remember and love you dearly! I never had any other friend, but you have told me I have a Father in Heaven, and you have taught me to pray to him. May he bless and protect you! Perhaps we shall never meet again, Miss Matilda !" The feeling was so agonizing that her grief burst forth in a renewed fit of weeping. 66 My poor, sweet child!" said Matilda, kissing the girl with an affectionate warmth, that contrasted strangely with the coldness of the others, "God bless you! I hope we shall meet some day-where, is only known to the great Being who holds in His hands the destiny of His creatures. I shall pray for you; pray, child, for me!" "That I will, every day!" was the rejoinder of Euphemia, as the rumbling of a coach denoted the approach of Captain Carlos. He took a last hurried farewell of his children, deposited the baggage, in which term he included the girl, in the vehicle, and drove hastily to the water side, to join his good craft-the Dart. CHAPTER XI. You have among you many a purchased slave, Because you bought them. Merchant of Venice. To think that man, thou just and gentle God! Away, away-I'd rather hold my neck By doubtful tenure from a Sultan's beck, In climes, where liberty has scarce been named, MOORE. Beneath the welcome shade afforded by a grove of lofty palm trees, two persons are engaged in deep and earnest conversation. The scene, in the immediate vicinity of a large, irregularly built town, is well calculated to attract the attention of any one who looks upon it for the first time. At a few yards distance from the group of trees, a fine expanse of water stretches out, having all the appearance of an extensive lake, although it is in reality but a reach of the river, that by its division into two branches a little above this spot, forms an island, on which the straggling town alluded to is built. The stream, that owes to this resemblance its name of Lagos, is one of the numerous outlets of the mighty and mysterious Niger, and thereby possesses vast facilities for the transit of slaves from the interior. The rainy season is over, and vegetation has assumed those luxuriant and majestic forms known only in the torrid zone. Tamarind, banana, citron, and pomegranate trees, laden with their rich fruit, or covered with a profusion of blossoms, impart to the air a delicious fragrance. The opposite shore is fringed by the gigantic Guinea grass, frequently reaching the height of fifteen or twenty feet, and towering far above all is the noble baobab, the largest of nature's leafy favourites, upon whose majestic arcades the eye reposes with delight, seeking in their fresh and vivid green a relief from the oppressive glare reflected by almost every object under the scorching sun of Africa. The ceaseless hum of innumerable insects falls with a drowsy monotony on the ear, interrupted at intervals by the screaming of parrots, or the cry of the trumpet bird, an especial favourite with the natives. The man is a tall, portly European, in the prime of life; the female a slim, well-proportioned halfcaste, with eyes full of fire and passion, except when occasionally subdued into softness by the melancholy that held undisputed reign in the rest of her regular, intelligent features. "He is past his time," said the man to his companion; "for we sailed together by the same tide. The Dart is one of the swiftest vessels belonging to the Mersey; but my brisk little cutter, the Swallow, has skimmed over the waters as nimbly as the bird whose name she bears. When he sees me confronting him in Africa, won't he be astonished! His craven heart will sink within him. But the child's fate is sealed ere this. He could have no object in so acting but to destroy her. However, one of my trusty men accompanies him, and when he arrives we shall know all. Come what may, I'll brand him as a murderer!" "I am prepared for the worst, Denman. If better happen, it will be a blessed relief. My poor dear mistress and kinswoman is happy in her grave! Had she lived to hear this sad recital, it would have broken one of the kindest, noblest hearts that ever beat in a human breast. But the father still lives to revenge the wrongs of his injured child, and he will do it, believe me, effectually?" "But his health is declining; is it not? His end approaches." "Not so. He is in better health, they tell me, than he has been for years. This dastardly knave has played a deep game. Now I see it all. He used to show me letters, written, he said, by the poor girl to her father, giving an account of her education, and the many accomplishments she had learned. O, he's a wily hypocrite. I know him well.” |