The Lost Hunter

by John Turvill Adams

  CHAPTER XII.

  _Esculus_.--Come hither to me, master Elbow, come hither, master constable. How long have you been in this place of constable?

  MEASURE FOR MEASURE

  We have seen that when the constable left the shop he felt someanxiety about the proper course to be pursued. On the one hand werehis duty and avarice, on the other his fears. After some meditation hefinally effected a compromise between them, by adopting the resolutionto wait until the formidable Holden should make his appearance againin the village, where, he thought he would be less likely, inopen day, and surrounded by others, to resist, or, if he did, theassistance of the bystanders might be commanded.

  Two or three days passed in this manner, none, excepting the fivepersons above-mentioned, having any knowledge of the issuing ofthe warrant. The excitement had died away, and the little communitysupposed no notice would be taken of the occurrence, and, for the mostpart, were disposed that none should be. Meanwhile, Basset, like aspider in the centre of his web, watched for his victim, ready topounce upon him, as soon as the propitious moment should arrive. Itis curious how the desire to capture Holden increased with delay. Atfirst, and in the prospect of immediate danger, the business was farfrom being relished, but as time slipped along, and his mind becamefamiliarized to its contemplation, it began to assume something ofeven a tempting character. He began to fancy that if he could securethe Recluse, he should achieve for himself a reputation for courage,which he was far, at present, from possessing. Yet, still he desiredto discharge his commission in the most prudent manner.

  But Holden did not appear. Was it possible he could have obtainedinformation of the threatened danger, and was keeping himselfconcealed? At the thought, Basset stood two inches higher; his couragemounted rapidly, and the terrible pirate dwindled into a submissiveculprit.

  Ketchum, meanwhile, began to be importunate. He had become impatientat waiting, and demanded of the constable the reason of the delay.The latter, unwilling to confess the true cause, put him off with suchexcuses as his ingenuity suggested, until he had exhausted his stock,and was obliged to apply himself to the discharge of his duty. He,therefore, made up his mind to face the danger, but not to monopolizethe glory of the achievement. He dared not go alone, and accordinglylooked round for somebody to assist him in the perilous enterprise.Now, the veteran Primus, by virtue of his exploits in theRevolutionary War, and the loss of one of his legs on the field ofbattle, enjoyed a high reputation for bravery. Backed by the oldwarrior, or rather led by him, for Basset meant to yield him the postof honor, the constable thought he should stand a much greater chanceof success. He determined, therefore, to apply to Primus, secure hisservices, and take counsel with him on the best mode to apprehendHolden. With this view, he betook himself to the bachelor quarters ofthe black--a hovel on the outskirts of the village, where we find himat this present moment.

  "I hab some interjection, Missa Basset," said Primus, evidently inreply to a proposition of the constable. "Suppose you come to ketchme, how I like to hab somebody help you?"

  "No danger of that, Prime," said Basset; "you are too clever a fellowfor me to go with a warrant after; and if it was your case, I shouldmore likely give you a squint of what was going on, than be plottinghow to git hold on ye. You don't know your friends, Prime."

  "Dey say 'tis a wise child dat know his own fader," answered Primus."Now, if a child dat see his fader ebery day, and been brung up inde same house, not know him, how is it possible dat I know you, MissaBasset, who neber before do me de honor ob a visit?"

  "Why," said the constable, who hardly knew what reply to make, "younever come to see me, Prime."

  "Dat is de trute," said Primus, "and dat look as do you and me isno great friends, arter all. But," added he, observing the other'sembarrassment, "dat is needer here nor dere. I always suspect you berymuch, sar, and is willing to do anything to obleege you. Tell us, now,'xactly, what you want me to do."

  "Why, you see, I want somebody to go along with me to be there whenI take him, that's all. The island's three or four miles off, and Ishall want you to help row the boat."

  "O, if dat is all, I is 'greeable," exclaimed Primus. "When you tinkof going, Missa Basset?"

  "I ain't just made up my mind on that pint, and that's one thing Iwant to talk about. When will he be most likely to be at home? What doyou think? Had we better go in the morning, or wait till afternoon."

  "Dat inquire some deflexum. Let me see: I don't know about de day, atall. If he see you coming, he make off, probumbly, and den de job islost, and de fire is in de fat. De night is de best time, I guess, toketch dis kind ob fish."

  But this opinion did not suit the notions of the constable.

  "It won't be half so pleasant," he said. "It's plaguy cold at night;and if it keeps on at this rate, the river will soon freeze up. Iexpect we can git him easier, too, in the day-time than at night."

  For some reason Primus seemed to entertain a decidedly contraryopinion.

  "You suspec'," cried he, "de ole man let you put you hand an him aseasy as Frisky wink (looking at a little mongrel, that at the mentionof his name jumped into his master's lap). Ketch a weasel asleep! Deold man beard too long for dat."

  "Why, I can't see," said Basset, "what objections you can have if Itake the risk. You can't deny it's a great deal pleasanter in theday time than to go along shivering at night, and, perhaps, catch atarnation cold. So, Prime, what say to going down to-morrow in theforenoon or afternoon, I don't care much which? It's all one to me."

  "It's all no use," persisted Primus. "You just hab to pay for de boatand my sarvices, and git noting. Dat is what I call a berry bad spec,Missa Basset."

  "Well, what's that to you, I tell you? If I choose to run the risk,that's enough, and you ought to be satisfied. You git your pay, andwhat more do you want?"

  "Dere is someting more I want," exclaimed the General, "I want desatisfacshum ob victory. I want de satisfacshum here," he repeated,laying his hand on his breast. "Do you tink, sar, dat a genlmn, datfight in de Resolutionary war, and gib one leg, dat you may stand ontwo free leg, hab no feeling ob honor? Beside, dis old soger don'twant no bread he don't arn."

  "Well, I'll make a bargain with you, that if we don't catch Holden,you shan't have anything. That horse is soon curried."

  "Ah, dat won't do. My time is precious, and de hire is wordy ob delaborer. No, Missa Basset, if you want to go in de day time, you cango. Dere is nobody will hender you. But dis child you will please'scuse. Beside, dere is a good reason I say noting about 'cause Idon't want to hurt you feelings."

  "What's that?" said Basset. "Don't be afeared, spit it out."

  "Well, seeing as how you is so pressing you see I tink someting ob my'spectability."

  "Your what?" exclaimed the constable, utterly at a loss to imagine themeaning of the other.

  "My 'spectability," repeated Primus, gravely. "You see, when I was ayoung man I sociate wid da best company in de country. I members detime when General Wayne (dey called him Mad Antony cause he fight solike de dibble) say afore de whole army dat haansome fellow--meaningme--look like anoder Anibal (Anibal I guess was a French General).Ah," sighed Primus, "dey made more 'count ob colored pussons den, dandey does now."

  "What has all this to do with your respectability?" inquired Bassetwho began to be a little impatient.

  "I come to dat at de end ob de roll call," responded Primus. "Do youtink it bery 'spectable now, for a man who, in his younger day, fightfor liberty, to go for to take it away in his old age from anoderman?"

  "But just consider," said Basset, whose cue was flattery andconciliation, "Holden went agin the very laws you made."

  "I make de law, Missa Basset?" roared Primus, "haw! haw! haw! I makede law, haw! haw! haw! does you want to kill me! O dear!"

  "Yes," said Basset stoutly, "and I can prove it. Now say, if theAmericans didn't make their own laws, wouldn't the British make 'emfor 'em? And who was it drove the British out and give us a chance tomake our own
laws eh?"

  "Pity you isn't a lawyer," said Primus, suddenly abandoning his mirthat the other's explanation, "dere is a great deal in what you say--dewhite men owes a big debt to us colored pussons. Dat is a fust ratereason why I should want to see de law execute but not for me to gomyself in particular, when, perhaps de ole man point his rifle at me,and tell me to clear out."

  "Why, you don't think he'll resist?" cried the constable somewhatstartled, feeling the apprehensions revive which Tom Gladding hadoccasioned, but which the passage of a few days had almost lulledasleep.

  "'Tis bery hard to tell what a man do when he git in a corner," saidPrimus, shaking his head, and fastening his eyes on the constable'sface, "but, if you want to know my 'pinion, it is just dis--if MissaHolden know what you up to, he make day light shine trough you, inless dan no time, rader dan be took."

  "Poh?" exclaimed Basset, affecting a courage he was far from feeling,"you're skeary, Prime. So, in your judgment, it's safer to go bynight, is it?"

  "My 'pinion is made up on all de pints," said Primus, resolutely, andbringing all his batteries to bear. "Dis case hab two hinge, de fustis de 'spectability, and de second de safety. Now, if any man suspectme to go on work ob dis a kind in de day time, when ebery body see mein you company, he as much mistake as when he kiss his granny for agal. De night is de proper time for sich a dark business, and it suitme better if I 'scuse altogeder from it. But I wish to 'bleege you,Missa Basset. Now, de second hinge is de safety, and it 'stonish medat an onderstanding man, and a man ob experunce and larning likeyou, Missa Basset, should dream o' going in de daytime. Dere stand oldHolden probumbly wid his rifle in de window and all he hab to do, hesee so plan, is to pull de trigger and den where is you, Missa Basset?Or perhaps," he added laughing, "'stead ob shooting at you, he shootat me, and dat would be bery onpleasant. In de day-time, a coloredpusson make a better mark dan a white man; but in de night we has deadvantage. Haw! Haw!"

  This was a view of things that did not please the constable atall, and the mirth of the negro appealed excessively ill-timed. He,therefore, said:

  "Don't talk so, Prime; it's dreadful to hear you. Well, if you'reafraid, say so, and done with--"

  "Me, 'fraid," exclaimed Primus, "me dat is as 'customed to de bulletsas de roof to de rain! No, sar, you is better 'quainted wid de genlmendat is 'fraid dan dis child."

  "Don't git mad though," said Basset, in whose mind one apprehensiondrove out another, and who began to fear he might lose altogether hisnew ally. "Everybody knows you're as brave as Julius Caesar, Prime."

  "Please, sar, not to repair me to no Caesar," exclaimed the indignantGeneral. "De Caesars ob my 'qaintance was nebber no great shakes. I haba better name dan dat. My name is Primus--dat mean, in Latin, fust--soI hear genlmn say, and Ransome, and de meaning ob dat is, dat in deglorious Resolution I run some arter de British (dough de foolishdoctor abuse me and say dey give me de name 'cause I run away), andputting bote togedder dey makes a name any genlmn may be proud ob.But, Missa Basset, what you going to gib me for dis job?"

  "Why, a quarter'll be good wages, I guess."

  "A quarter ob a dollar! Do you s'pose I dispose myself to ketch coldon de ribber, and die afore my time, and arter dat to be shoot at,like a duck, for a quarter? I don't 'list on no such tarms."

  "We'll say a half. I'm inclined to be liberal, but I shall expect youto be lively, Prime."

  "Dat is too little;" grumbled Primus. "And who else you got to helpyou?"

  "Why, hain't two enough? I might as well give up the job at once, anddone with it, if I'm to pay out all the fees."

  "One more will make all sure," said Primus, who, prudent general thathe was, thought no odds could be too great against an enemy. "S'pose Ispeak to Missa Gladding to insist?"

  "Tom Gladding be hung. I won't give him a cent."

  "But," said Primus, who seemed determined to have his own way ineverything, "you no interjection, I guess, if it don't cost younoting."

  "No," replied Basset, who was glad enough of another auxiliary,provided his own packet was not affected. "But, mind ye, I don't payhim a red cent."

  "I pay him myself, out ob my own pass. De danger won't be so much, andde work will be done up right, sartin. So, atween genlmn, de businessis settle."

  They parted with the understanding that the General was to seeGladding and induce him to take part in the enterprise, and that thethree would meet at a certain place in the evening, the constablebeing careful to repeat that he couldn't afford more than fifty centsfor any assistance that might be rendered. Primus accordingly calledupon Gladding, and the arrangement must have been satisfactory, forthe three were all at the place of rendezvous at the appointed hour.