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She's not yet come up, but will presently. So get things ready to receive her." Shebotha but bends lower, with an inclination of the head, to imply that his instructions will be attended to. Then he adds "No one must see, or converse with her; at least, not for a time. And you mustn't admit any one inside your toldo, except the witless white creature, your slave. About him it don't signify.
His deliberation is not for long; a bright idea has flashed across his brain, and with his countenance also recovering brightness, he exclaims "Gracios a Dios! I know how it can be managed; I think I know." Ludwig and Cypriano have it on their tongues to inquire what he means. But before either can say a word, he is off and away in a rush toward the scaffold-post to which Shebotha is tied.
For he hopes to overtake the fugitives, ere they can reach the place of rendezvous Shebotha has spoken of, and recover his captive before she can fling herself into the arms of protecting friends. In this hope, alas! he is not disappointed.
Ay, and for doing so we'd deserve the same ourselves, or something as bad." "Well, Senor Ludwig," rejoins the gaucho, with an air of submission rather than conviction, "you may be right in what you say, and I'm not the man to deny it. But there need be no difference of opinion on that point. Leaving Shebotha tied to a tree wouldn't do on any account, for the reasons I've stated.
Then her greedy eyes go to the fillet around the girl's temples, and an embroidered belt which encircles her waist. But these, though pretty ornaments, are not of great intrinsic value; and as Shebotha has in view a further levy of blackmail at a future time, she can then take them too.
Liberty? Mine's gone long ago. I'm but a poor slave Shebotha's slave. I can never be free again; no, never!" "You may be free now this very moment if you wish it." "If I wish it! Ha, ha, ha! That's a good joke! If I wish it! Only show me the way, and let Mam Shebotha go to " "Never mind Mam Shebotha. Listen to me, who am of the same race and people as yourself.
At some distance from the houses, however, among thickly-standing trees, and close into the base of the hill, is the quaint dwelling-place of Shebotha half cave, half hut and inside this flickers a faint light, from a dip candle of crude beeswax, with a wick of the fibre of the pita plant.
With such terrible thoughts to agitate her breast, no wonder she should be awake while everyone around seems slumbering. But on this night, and at this hour, something besides hinders her from seeking repose; that being the absence of Shebotha, which, for certain reasons, makes her more than ordinarily apprehensive. In truth, she is greatly alarmed by it.
But it will not be successful if she, Shebotha, can prevent it; and desperately bent on doing so, she rushes on through the scaffolds, and down the road to the tolderia, as if some danger threatened her from behind. Arriving by the door of her own hut, she utters an exclamation of surprise at not there seeing her slave. Still another, after having called out his name, and received no answer.
Soon as resolved how to act, the Indian girl, still holding the captive by the hand, leads her on to the door; and, passing over the threshold side by side, they present themselves to the sentry, Nacena saying: "In going in I forgot to tell you my errand from Mam Shebotha. She bade me bring the paleface to where she is herself. You see, I am taking her."
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