"And did you take it there?" asked the mate, with suppressed eagerness.
"No, surely—no!" answered the slave, with a sudden gleam of caution. "The patriots fell upon us—they began to burn and kill without warning. My master sent me to the boat, and told me to wait till he came with the mistress; but they fired the wharves, which made the water one blaze of light; and I could not come near the shore, try as I would. So at last I went to the island, and waited; but instead of my master—oh! you know what came there!"
"But the gold—did any one find the gold?"
"How do I know?"
"And the house—was it burned?"
"No; little master says they were dancing, and shouting, and drinking wine from the cellars when the family was driven out."
"And your master, where is he—his brothers, what became of them?" questioned the mate, so excited that his voice grew hoarse.
"Hush," said Jube, glancing at the boy.
"All?" whispered Thrasher.
"All, master."