"But I a.s.sure you, sir, I am speaking the truth. I appeal to you, men.

Tell this gentleman I was not one of your party."

"Hor, hor," roared Humpy, derisively. "What a sneak you are, Nic Revel.

Take your dose like we do--like a man."

"I appeal to you, Pete Burge. Tell this gentleman that I was brought out here by mistake."

"Yes, it was all a mistake, master," cried the man.

Humpy roared with laughter again. "Don't you believe him, master," he cried; "that there Pete Burge is the biggest liar we have in our parts.

He'd say anything."

"Men, men!" cried Nic, wildly, to the others; "speak the truth, for Heaven's sake."

"Course we will," cried Humpy quickly. "It's all right, master. Don't you show more favour to one than another. We was all took together after a bit o' poaching and a fight. Youngster there got a crack on the head which knocked him silly, and he's hatched up this here c.o.c.kamaroo story in his fright at being sent out. Do him good--do all on us good, and we're all glad to ha' got with such a good master; aren't we, lads?"

"That will do," said the settler. "You have got too much grease on your tongue, my man."

"But, sir," cried Nic.

"Silence!"

"You will let me write to my friends?"

"We don't want you to write to us, mate," cried Humpy grinning; "we can't none on us read. You can tell us what you want to say."

"Silence, you, sir," said the settler, sternly; "I keep a cat here, and that man who saw to your irons knows how to use it. Hold your tongue, once for all."

"Oh, all right master; I on'y--"

"Silence!"

Humpy gave his mouth a slap, as if to shut it, and the settler turned to Nic.

"Look here, young man," he said; "I have only your word for your story, and it seems likely enough to be as your fellow-prisoner says, something hatched up from fear. You are sent out here for your good."

"You don't believe me, sir?" cried Nic, wildly.

"Not a word of it," replied the settler. "We get too much of that sort of thing out here. Every man, according to his own account, is as innocent as a lamb. You were sent out of your country, and came in a king's ship. You are a.s.signed to me for a labourer, and if you--and all of you," he cried, turning to the others, "behave well, and work well, you'll find me a good master. You shall be well fed, have decent quarters and clothes, and though you are slaves I won't make slaves of you, but treat you as well as I do my blacks. Look at them; they're as healthy a set of men as you can see."

The blacks grinned and seemed contented enough.

"That's one side of the case--my part," continued the settler; "now for the other. I've had a deal of experience with such men as you are, and I know how to treat them. If you play any pranks with me, there's the lash. If you attack me I'll shoot you down as I would a panther. If you try to escape: out north there are the mountains where you'll starve; out south and east there is the swamp, where the 'gators will pull you down and eat you, if you are not drowned or stifled in the mud; if you take to the open country those bloodhounds will run you to earth in no time. Do you hear?" he said meaningly, "run you to earth; for when they have done there'll be nothing to do but for some of my blacks to make a hole for you and cover you up. Now, then, you know what's open to you. Your country has cast you out; but we want labour here; and, rough and bad as you are, we take you and make better men of you."

"Thank ye, master," cried Humpy; "that's fair enough, mates."

The settler gave him a look which made the man lower his eyes.

"Now then," said the settler, "I am going to begin, and begin fairly with you.--Samson."

"Yes, ma.s.sa," cried the big black.

"Take off their irons.--And if you all behave yourselves you'll never have to wear them again."

The basket was at hand; the a.s.sistant brought out the little anvil, and the task of filing and then drawing out the rivets began, with the dogs looking on.

"As for you, my lad," said the settler, "I can see you look weak and ill; you can take it easy for a few days till you get up your strength."

"But you will make some inquiries, sir?" pleaded Nic.

"Not one, boy. I know enough. I take the word of the king's people; so say no more."

He turned his back upon his white slave, and it was as if the old confusion of intellect had suddenly come back: Nic's brain swam, black specks danced before his eyes, and he staggered and would have fallen but for Pete Burge's arm, as the man caught him and whispered:

"Hold up, Master Nic; never say die!"

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

PETE'S APPEAL.

"Aren't you a bit hard on me, Master Nic?" said Pete, busy at his task in the plantation of hoeing the weeds, which seemed to take root and begin to grow again directly they were cut down.

He did not look up, but spoke with his head bent over his work, conscious as he was that they might be keenly watched.

"I have said nothing harsh to you," said Nic coldly.

"No, zir; but I thought that when you got a bit better, zeeing as we're both in the zame trouble, working together like them n.i.g.g.e.rs, you might ha' got a bit more friendly."

"Friendly!" said Nic bitterly.

"I don't mean reg'lar friendly, but ready to say a word to a man now and then, seeing how he wants to help you."

"You can't help me," said Nic sadly. "I seem to be tied down to this weary life for always, and for no fault of mine--no fault of mine."

"And it's no fault o' mine, Master Nic. You don't believe it, but I couldn't help coming that night; and I did try all I could to keep Humpy Dee from hurtin' you."

"Don't talk about it, please."

"No, zur, I won't; but you're hot and tired. You haven't got your strength up yet, though you are a zight better. Wish I could do all the work for you. Here, I know."

They were hoeing a couple of rows of corn, and Pete was some feet ahead of his companion, who looked at him wonderingly, as, after a quick glance round, he stepped across and back to where Nic was toiling.

"Quick," he said, "you get on to my row and keep moving your hoe and resting till I ketch up."

"But--" began Nic.

"Quick," growled Pete fiercely; and he gave the lagger a sharp thrust with his elbow. "If they zee us talking and moving, old Zaunders'll come across."