The Fugitives | Page 8

negro with a
look of visible anxiety on his expressive face.
Hockins turned his various pockets inside out by way of reply.
"I am equally destitute," said Mark.
The negro groaned as he slowly drew from his breeches pockets two
sea-biscuits and a cold sausage.
"I meant dat," he said, "as a light lunch for one yisterday."
"It'll have to do dooty, then, as a heavy breakfast for three this morning,
Ebony. Come, divide, and let's have fair play."
"Here, massa," said Ebony, handing the food to Mark, "you divide, I
ain't got de moral courage to do it fair. Number one is too strong in me
when I's hungry!"
With a laugh at this candid admission the youth did his best at a fair
division. In a few minutes the scanty meal was finished, and the
fugitives proceeded straight into the interior of the country at the
utmost speed which was compatible with sustained exertion.
They could see the faint outlines of a mountain range in the far distance,
and towards that they directed their steps, knowing that in the event of
sustained pursuit they had a much better chance of escaping among the
rugged fastnesses of a mountain region than in the forests or on the
plains. But they saw plainly that there was many a weary mile to
traverse before the sheltering mountains could be reached.
At first they walked rapidly and in silence, one behind the other--Mark
leading--but as time passed, and the danger of being overtaken
decreased, they fell more into line and began to talk of their plans and
prospects.
Of course they thought about the Eastern Star, and the possibility of
her hanging about the coast in the hope of picking them up; but as there

was no certainty upon that point, and a return to the coast would be like
rushing into the very jaws of the lion, from which they were fleeing,
they soon dismissed the idea as untenable.
"Now then, the question is, sir, Wot are we a-goin' for to do?" said
Hockins.
"Ay, dat's de question," added Ebony with much force, and more than
Shakespearean brevity.
"Well now, lads," said Mark, "I've been thinking over that, and it seems
to me that there's not much to choose between. Unfortunately, I know
uncommonly little about this island--not that my geographical
education has been neglected, but the class-books I have used did not
give much information about Madagascar. I know, however, that the
Mozambique Channel, which divides us from Africa, is a little too wide
to swim. I also know that there is a capital somewhere near the middle
of the island, the name of which begins with an `Ant,' and ends with a
`rivo.' There are some syllables between, I believe, but how many, is
more than I can tell. There's a government in it, however, and a queen,
and some Christian missionaries. Now, it strikes me that where there's a
government, a queen, and Christian missionaries, there must be more or
less of civilisation and safety, so I would advise that we make straight
for the capital."
"Right you are, sir," said Hockins. "As I know nothin' whotsomever
about the place, I'll take my sailin' orders from you, captain, an' steer a
straight course for Anty--whatever-she-is--arivo, where I hope we'll
arrive O!--`all alive O!' in the course o' time. What say you, Ebony?"
"I's agreeable; don't care much for nuffin' when it don't trouble me. But
I's gettin' awful hungry, an' I don't see nuffin' to eat in dis yer
forest--not even fruit--dough it's pritty enough to look at."
The scenery through which they were passing at the time was indeed
more than pretty. It was gorgeous, and would certainly have claimed
more attention from the travellers had they been less anxious to
advance, and, perhaps, less hungry.

By that time--near mid-day--they had got through the densest part of
the woods, and were come to a part where occasional openings in the
foliage lighted them up. They had also discovered a narrow track or
footpath, which they gladly followed; for although by so doing they ran
the risk of coming suddenly upon natives, who might be foes just as
well as friends, the comparative ease of travelling was too great to be
neglected. This path struck over hill and down dale in a somewhat
dogged and straightforward manner, scorning to go round hillocks,
save when too precipitous for unwinged animals. At times it wound in
and out among trees of great beauty and variety, and of tropical aspect.
Elsewhere it plunged into denser stretches of forest, where the
profusion of vegetable life was extraordinary--here, a dense
undergrowth of shrubs, tree-ferns, and dwarf-palms; there, trees of
higher growth, and, shooting high above them all, the slender trunks of
many varieties of palms,