They rode on and came to the group, a dozen or so half–naked unkempt men, some of them burnt so black by the sun that they looked like pale–coloured negroes, and more than one back a criss–cross of scars from the overseer's lash. It was amongst these that Captain Blood's questing eyes alighted on the man he sought in Nevis.
My lady, who could never long sustain a role of amiable docility, was beginning to manifest her loss of patience at these futilities. That loss was complete when her companion now drew rein yet again, and gave a courteous good morning to the burly overseer of these wretched toilers. Almost at once her annoyance found an outlet. A young man, conspicuous for his athletic frame and sun–bleached golden hair, stood leaning upon his hoe, staring up wide–eyed and open–mouthed at the Captain.
She urged her mare forward.
'Why do you stand idle, oaf? Will you never learn not to stare at your betters? Then here's to improve your manners.'
Viciously her riding–switch cut across his naked shoulders. It was raised again, to repeat the stroke; but the slave, who had half swung round so as fully to face her, parried the blow on his left forearm as it descended, whilst his hand, simultaneously closing upon the switch, wrenched it from her with a jerk that almost pulled her from the saddle.
If the other toilers fell idle, to stare in awe, there was instant action from the watchful overseer. With an oath he sprang for the young slave, uncoiling the thong of his whip.
'Cut the flesh from his bones, Walter!' shrilled the lady.
Before this menace the goaded youth flung away the silver–mounted switch and swung his hoe aloft. His light eyes were blazing. 'Touch me with that whip and I'll beat your brains out.'
The big overseer checked. He knew reckless resolve when he saw it, and here it glared at him plainly. The slave, maddened by pain and injustice, was no more in case to count the cost of doing as he threatened than of having dared to employ the threat. The overseer attempted to dominate him by words and tone, so as to gain time until the frenzy should have passed.
'Put down that hoe, Hagthorpe. Put it down at once.'