Chapter Twenty Three.
In which Mark carries out his Plans successfully, and powerfully astonishes himself as well as every one else.
It was a brilliant lovely morning when the guests began to wend their way to the suburban residence of Anosy, where Ranavalona was to hold her garden party.
The people were very gay, somewhat excited, and very chatty, for they were aware that the young English doctor had prepared something new and surprising for the Queen’s special benefit.
Just before the earliest of these guests, however, had set off to the garden, our three heroes had passed down to that part of the road where the four slaves were already at work with pick and shovel and clanking chain.
It was a little after sunrise when Mark went up to the guard to relieve him.
“Take care,” said the guard, when about to leave, “that you keep the slaves well out of the way when the Queen passes. All the others in the neighbourhood have been taken off long ago. I was beginning to be afraid you would not come in time.”
“I understand,” said Mark, who knew enough of the language, (and also of the situation), to follow the drift of his meaning.
The guard thereupon turned, shouldered his musket, and went off, apparently well pleased at the unexpected relief from duty.
While this little incident was occurring three of the slaves were looking on with a slight expression of surprise in their sad faces. The fourth, Mamba, was standing in a dejected attitude before Hockins and Ebony, holding a pick in one hand and his heavy chain in the other.