This last speech was delivered in soliloquy.
“Like her! Like whom?” demanded Herbert with a puzzled look.
“Your pardon,” replied the hunter. “I was struck with a resemblance between this poor fellow and one whom I know; but, Master Vaughan,” he continued, as if wishing to change the subject, “you have not said how you came to be all night in the woods? You were hunting yesterday and lost your way?”
“True, I lost my way, but not exactly while hunting.”
“Perhaps that is all the sort of breakfast you have had?” and the Maroon pointed to some pieces of the palm-cabbage that still lay on the turf.
“I have both supped and breakfasted upon it,” replied Herbert. “I had climbed the tree for water, when the boar came up to break his fast upon what remained of it.”
The Maroon smiled at this explanation of some circumstances by which even he had been mystified.
“Well,” said he, “if you are not anxious to return at once to Mount Welcome, and will give me five minutes’ time, I think I can provide you something better than raw cabbage.”
“I am not particularly in a hurry about getting back to Mount Welcome. Perhaps I may never go back!”
These words, combined with the air of the young Englishman as he uttered them, did not escape the notice of the intelligent Maroon.