“Amiss, Master Vaughan? Much, indeed. But we shouldn’t stand to talk. We must take the road to Savannah, and at once.”
“What! you want me to go to Savannah? I’m with you for any reasonable adventure; but my time’s not exactly my own, and I must first have a reason for such a journey.”
“A good reason, Master Vaughan. Your uncle, the Custos, is in trouble.”
“Ah!” exclaimed the young Englishman, with an air of disappointment. “Not so good a reason as you may think, Captain. Was it he you meant when you said, just now, one who should be dear to me was in danger?”
“It was,” answered Cubina.
“Captain Cubina,” said Herbert, speaking with a certain air of indifference, “this uncle of mine but little deserves my interference.”
“But his life’s in danger!” urged the Maroon, interrupting Herbert in his explanation.
“Ah!” ejaculated the nephew, “do you say that? If his life’s in danger, then—”
“Yes,” said the Maroon, again interrupting him, “and others, too, may be in peril from the same enemy—yourself, perhaps, Master Vaughan. Ay, and maybe those that might be dear to you as yourself.”
“Ha!” exclaimed Herbert—this time in a very different tone of voice, “you have some evil tidings, Captain! pray tell me all at once.”