Murray suppressed a smile and looked as serious as he could, giving orders to the men to pull a few strokes with their oars, sufficient to send the cutter into the place that had been occupied by the planter’s boat, which was now gliding away from the great bamboo piles driven in by the rustic steps and platform upon which their guide had landed, while he now stood resting upon a rail beneath the verandah, which offered ample shade for the cutter and her crew.
Murray gave a few further orders, sprang out and stepped to the planter’s side as the feeble invalid signed to him to come.
“I heard the commands given to you, sir,” he said, “and you will, I hope, forgive me if I do not seem hospitable.”
“I know you are ill, sir,” said Murray coldly, “so you need not trouble at all about me and my men.”
“I thank you,” said the planter, “and of course I know enough of the Navy and its discipline not to proffer drink to your men.”
“Certainly not,” said Murray stiffly.
“Still,” continued the planter, “in this hot climate the shelter will be acceptable. There is a spring of excellent water in the rockery behind the house, of which I beg you will make every use you desire. I am going to lie down in the room to the left. You have only to ring, and my slaves—well, servants,” said the planter, smiling sadly as he saw the lad’s brow knit—“my servants will attend to your summons directly, and bring fruit—oranges, and what your men will no doubt appreciate, fresh green cocoanuts. They will make you fresh coffee and bring anything else you desire, sir.”
“I am much obliged,” said Murray, rather distantly, “but you must recollect that I am on duty.”
“I do not forget that, sir,” replied the planter, smiling; “but you will not find your duty a very hard one—to guard a poor feeble creature such as I. There, sir, you and your superiors are masters here, and I am, I know, only a prisoner.”
“I shall make your position as little irksome as I can, sir,” said Murray; and then, feeling a certain amount of pity for the wretched man, he added, “Not a very terrible-looking prison, this.”