CHAPTER XVII.
THE NUBIAN SLAVE AND ELLEN HARMER.
It must be confessed that no man living ever felt less remorse for crime of any kind than did Colonel Blood.
He had been in several wars, and was a rough-handed, cold-hearted villain.
But with all his knavery, he possessed a sort of gentlemanly bearing that admitted him into almost any society of the loose-living period in which he lived, namely, that of the lascivious Charles the Second, whom people are wont to call “the merry monarch.”
John Blood had ridden some twenty miles or more; he hired a light and fast four-wheeled vehicle, in order to reach London all the sooner.
Ellen Harmer, almost distracted at thus being forcibly borne away from her father’s home, wept and bewailed her cruel fate.
But, had she shed tears of gore, they would have had no effect upon the mind or conscience of her rude, rough-handed captor.
In order to quiet the beautiful Ellen, he administered to her a glass of wine, in which he had placed a noxious drug.
This had the effect of producing sound sleep; nor was she aware of whither the fast-going vehicle was going.
All she knew was, that when she awoke on the following morning, she found herself in a sumptuously-decorated chamber.
Around her were furniture and articles of beautiful design, and evidently of great price.
She rushed out of bed towards the window in great surprise.
It was barred.
But she could see below her splendid gardens, with fountains playing.
Fruit trees and flowers met her astonished gaze on every hand.
All was silent.
“Am I dreaming?” she thought. “Has all that I have passed through been nought but a cruel excruciating nightmare?”
Beside a splendid mirror, in which she could see herself from head to foot, she perceived a massive bell-pull, with fine bullion tassel.
This she mechanically touched.
A soft, sweet sound responded to her touch, like the harmonious tinkling of a silver bell.
The more she looked about her the more she was astonished and confounded at the brilliance, beauty and elegance of all things.
She heard no one approach, but turning suddenly beheld a tall servant, splendidly attired, but his face and bare arms were as black as ebony.
Ellen started.
The servant bowed lowly and smiled.
“Where am I?” the startled girl inquired, with a flushed face and flashing eyes. “Who has brought me hither, and for what?”
The tall Nubian smiled again.
He bowed more lowly than ever, but spoke not.
He motioned to her that he was both deaf and dumb.
“Set me at liberty!” gasped the captive girl, for the first time realizing her true position, “set me free; I cannot breath the atmosphere of this gilded prison. Oh! let me once more flee to my poor old father, or my heart will break!”
So speaking, she sank on her knees before the tall Nubian, and burst into tears.
For a moment the black gazed at the beautiful young creature, and his eyes rolled in wild delight.
He lifted her up from her prostrate position on the floor, and kissed her snowy hand with every token of affection.
This act surprised and startled Ellen more than ever, for the strange intruder was a fierce, tall man, and one who seemed to possess, when he willed it, both the strength of a lion, or the gentleness of a lamb.
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But with all his ferocious exterior there was a something in his smile both tender and re-assuring.
He placed a finger on his lips, and led her gently towards the window.
He next, and with great air of mystery and caution, pulled out of his silk doublet a small ivory tablet.
He partly wrote upon it these words:—
“You are a stranger to me, and, rough as I look, I love you, love you dearly.”
Ellen’s eyes darted fiery anger at him as she shunned the smiling black.
He took no notice of her seeming repugnance, but smiled, and in the act showed his rows of shining teeth.
He rubbed out the words he had written, and quickly pencilled these others:—
“Do you wish me to be a friend or foe, fair one?”
“A friend,” said Ellen, trembling.
He placed before her the tablet again, and she read—
“I will be a friend to you, and a true one, on a single condition.”
The girl’s blood almost curdled in her veins as she read what he had hastily scribbled, for she now trembled for her honour and chastity.
“Name your condition,” she gasped.
“Can you, will you keep a secret?” he wrote.
“I will,” she answered.
“On your life and honour?” he wrote again.
“Yes, on my life and honour,” she answered, firmly, for a moment feeling re-assured by his change of manner.
He now wrote on the tablet.
“I am the slave of Colonel Blood; they call me Sinbad, and am supposed even by my master to be both deaf and dumb; but I am not.”
“Not deaf and dumb?” she answered. “Then you knew the sounds of the bell I rang?”
“I heard it,” he whispered, “and knew its meaning.”
“My meaning?” she asked.
“Yes; and my master’s also, for he left word with his confidential valet that directly you rang he should be summoned.”
“For what purpose?”
“That I will afterwards explain. I knew that you had been abducted, and that when you had fully recovered from the drugs administered to you last night on the way hither you would ring the chamber bell.
“This bell I watched,” said the Nubian, “and muffled it in order that I might know when you had awoke from slumber, and forewarn you of all that is to happen to you this day.”
“Happen?” said Ellen.
“Yes, maiden; look not surprised, you are not the first fair victim who has fallen into the treacherous fangs of my master, Colonel Blood.”
“For what purpose, then, was I brought hither? I have never harmed any one. What crime am I guilty of?”
“Your beauty is your only crime,” the Nubian whispered. “He has brought you hither as a fair one who may be dishonoured, and, thereafter, for a time pander to the lusts of the king, his master.”
“Impossible!” Ellen gasped.
“Nay, ’tis true; but, remember, I have fore-warned you, and if you do but keep your promise I will be your friend; in helping you I seek my own revenge. I cannot tell you the horrid indignity which I have suffered at my master’s hands, but you may perhaps at some time learn it. In case you should need it, take this dagger; conceal it in your fair bosom. But, hark! I hear some one approaching!”
As quick as thought the Nubian crawled beneath the bed and listened.
’Twas Colonel Blood who stood at the door!