“Ay, ay, sir!” And the man softly raised the bell, thrusting in his hand so as to secure the tongue, and then the pair stepped back into the hall and through the door at the back, Murray closing it after them, before he signed to his follower to ring.
The man obeyed, at first gently, but as there was no reply he rang more loudly, and followed up his summons by thrusting the bell through a window at the back and sounding it vigorously.
“Can’t be no one at home, sir,” said the big sailor, turning to gaze at his officer.
“So it seems,” said Murray, as he stood in the intense silence listening; “but that Mr Allen said that his servants would come and attend to any of my wants.”
“Them chaps as rowed was all his servants or slaves, I suppose, sir?” said the man.
“Yes; but it is the hottest time, and these people out here always sleep in the middle of the day. Go out and follow up the side of that stream where they poled up the boat.”
Tom May looked at him in a peculiar way.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” said Murray.
“I warn’t with you when the blacks pulled the boat away.”
Murray started, and stared at his man in turn.