21. CHAPTER XXI.
But a new prospect of freedom, in this respect,
was about to open upon him. One morning, whilst
our wealthy Maroon was still engaged in the cleansing
and assorting of his treasure, close in his cavern—
he was surprised by the sudden and unexpected entrance
of Amaya, with words of wonder on her
tongue, and looks of terror in her face. He hastily
put his pearls from sight, and hurried with her to the
entrance of the cavern. There, in the sea-monster
which alarmed her with a nameless fear, he beheld an
object of scarcely less terror to himself. This was
an European vessel. It might—it must be a Spaniard—but
it was still at too great a distance to enable
him to solve his doubts, or to relieve or increase
his apprehensions. It was evidently approaching his
islet; and for what visitor, other than Velasquez,
should he look?
In a secure cover, on the top of his cavern, our
Maroon, with the trembling Amaya beside him,
watched the course of the stranger. The Indian girl
beheld the anxiety of her companion—to describe the
feeling at his heart, embodied in his looks and actions,
by its gentlest name—and her own terrors increased
accordingly. In the brief space of time between the
first appearance of the vessel, and his discovery of
her true character, Lopez de Levya rapidly ran over
in his mind the prospects of his condition—the probable
object of the Dian de Burgos, and the effect of
this return, upon his fortunes. What had he to hope
from Velasquez, or the implacable Juan, his rival?
What motive, but that of mockery and a cruel curiosity,
would have brought either of them back to the
spot where they had marooned him? And should
they search for him, what was his hope of concealment?
He could hide from the Caribbeans, who had no suspicion
of any presence but their own—but from the
people of the Dian de Burgos there was no concealment.
They would search the island—they would
discover the cavern, and not one of its crevices could
be made safe against their penetrating eyes or their
probing lances.
A cold sweat covered the limbs of the miserable
creature, as his rapid thoughts coursed over the whole
ground of his condition. And yet, it will scarcely be
believed that, thus doubtful of his own fate, he could
yet think of concealing his newly-gotten treasure.
He hurried back into his cave, counselling Amaya still
to maintain her watch upon the stranger. In secret,
he toiled to place his pearls in security. The crevice
which let in the light on one side the vault, he busily
crammed with the soft moss and leaves taken from the
couch in which he had slept. The light being excluded,
he placed his baskets of treasure along the ledge,
and concealed them in like manner. Nothing but the
closest search, under the stimulating influence of a
suspicion that something was concealed, could have
led to the discovery of his possessions. There was
no way of hiding himself in the same manner; and,
full of the most horrible apprehensions, he joined
Amaya upon the eminence.
It was now necessary to think of her. Should Velasquez
suspect the treasure—should Juan obtain sight
of her, or any of the Spaniards—she would be torn
from his arms with unscrupulous violence. To conceal
her, it was necessary that the cave should be kept
from their knowledge. He conducted her into its recesses.
He showed her where he himself had been
hidden, and easily persuaded her to seek shelter in its
dusky recesses. She might hope to escape unnoticed,
even if the cave were penetrated; but her safety,
should the bark be the Dian de Burgos, lay only in
showing himself. Upon this policy, still trembling to
encounter the cruel Velasquez and insidious and hateful
Juan, the Maroon resolved. He continued his watch
in secrecy, though passing from copse to copse; he
left the neighborhood of his cavern, as the chewit flies
always from the spot where her young are hidden.
The vessel approached that part of the island where
he had been landed. This increased his fears that
she was that of his tyrant. If he came to mock, it
was the game of Lopez to implore and seem repentant.
If to pardon, it was his policy rather to appear surly,
and provoke his enemy to continued hostility;—for,
though anxious to reach Spain with his treasure, yet
our Maroon well knew that, with Juan or Velasquez
as a master, the very suspicion of his great possessions
would be fatal to his life. Better, then, to delay
the day of his restoration, than peril everything
on a hope so doubtful. But, in truth, Lopez de Levya
was not in a condition of mind to resolve on any
policy. He was now, as he had ever been before, the
creature of events!
