As he entered upon this last paragraph of his apostrophe he had commenced moving towards the copse, which was only six paces from his starting-point. Before the speech was completed he had passed in among the bushes; and, bending them over with his long, ape-like arms, was scrutinising the ground underneath.
The exclamation was called forth by his perceiving the form of a woman in a crouching attitude within the shadow.
In another instant he had seized the woman by the shoulder, and with a quick wrench jerked her into an erect position.
“Cynthy!” he exclaimed, as the light fell upon the countenance of the mulatta.
“Yes, Chakra!” cried the woman, screaming ere she spoke; “it’s me, it’s me!”
“Whugh! Wha’ you do hya? Youb been lissenin’. Wha’ fo’ you lissen?”
“Oh, Chakra! I did not intend it. I came here—”
“How long you been hya? Tell dat quick!”
“Oh, Chakra—I came—”
“You hya ’fore we came in’ de glade. Needn’t axe dat. You no kud git hya atterwad. You heer all been said? You muss hab heer it.”