CHAPTER VI.
THE account of the attempted massacre at Government House reached Lizzie through Mr Courtney; but he did not tell her that Henri de Courcelles had been arrested as one of the mutineers. He knew that she had regarded his late overseer with affection, and he wanted to spare her the pain of the suspense of learning his fate. It would be time enough, he thought, for her to mourn when her friend had been tried and condemned. But his kind consideration was wasted, for the news came to her by means of the yellow girl, Rosa, who burst into her presence on the day of De Courcelles’ escape from the Fort prison, brim full of the intelligence.
‘Oh, Missy Liz! dar’s grand news come from Government House. De Fort prison doors is bust open, and dey’s all gone—ebbery one of dem mutineers, and Massa Courcelles, he gone wid them.’
‘Monsieur de Courcelles!’ exclaimed Lizzie, hardly believing her ears. ‘What are you talking of, Rosa?’
‘Jes’ God’s truth, Missy Liz. Massa Courcelles de ringleader ob all de mutiny—dat’s what William Hall, dat hab jes’ come from de Fort, say; and dey take him prisoner ob Tuesday night, and put him in cell, and dis morning he was to be tried by ’martial; but he’s clean gone, and de mounted police am scouring San Diego for him.’
‘De Courcelles amongst the rebels!’ repeated Lizzie. ‘This, then, is what he meant by his revenge. Oh, that it had been in my power to save him from falling so low!’
‘But dat ain’t all, Missy Liz; dere’s more to come. William Hall say de police catch sight of Massa Courcelles ober de gully, close by Shanty Hill, and he ’scape them again, and run straight for de Alligator Swamp.’