Jules Verne For Children: 16 Incredible Tales of Mystery, Courage & Adventure (Illustrated Edition). Jules Verne
only to die. But, in thinking in that manner, Dick Sand mistook his own character. Under the pressure of these trials, the child became a man, and with him discouragement could only be an accidental tribute paid to human nature.
A loud concert of trumpet-calls and cries suddenly commenced. Dick Sand, who had just sunk down in the dust of the “tchitoka,” stood up. Every new incident might put him on the track of those whom he sought.
In despair a moment before, he now no longer despaired.
“Alvez! Alvez!” This name was repeated by a crowd of natives and soldiers who now invaded the grand square. The man on whom the fate of so many unfortunate people depended was about to appear. It was possible that his agents, Harris and Negoro, were with him. Dick Sand stood upright, his eyes open, his nostrils dilated. The two traitors would find this lad of fifteen years before them, upright, firm, looking them in the face. It would not be the captain of the Pilgrim who would tremble before the old ship’s cook.
A hammock, a kind of “kitanda” covered by an old patched curtain, discolored, fringed with rags, appeared at the end of the principal street. An old negro descended. It was the trader, Jose-Antonio Alvez. Several attendants accompanied him, making strong demonstrations.
Along with Alvez appeared his friend Coimbra, the son of Major Coimbra of Bihe, and, according to Lieutenant Cameron, the greatest scamp in the province. He was a dirty creature, his breast was uncovered, his eyes were bloodshot, his hair was rough and curly, his face yellow; he was dressed in a ragged shirt and a straw petticoat. He would have been called a horrible old man in his tattered straw hat. This Coimbra was the confidant, the tool of Alvez, an organizer of raids, worthy of commanding the trader’s bandits.
As for the trader, he might have looked a little less sordid than his attendant. He wore the dress of an old Turk the day after a carnival. He did not furnish a very high specimen of the factory chiefs who carry on the trade on a large scale.
To Dick Sand’s great disappointment, neither Harris nor Negoro appeared in the crowd that followed Alvez. Must he, then, renounce all hope of finding them at Kazounde?
Meanwhile, the chief of the caravan, the Arab, Ibn Hamis, shook hands with Alvez and Coimbra. He received numerous congratulations. Alvez made a grimace at the fifty per cent. of slaves failing in the general count, but, on the whole, the affair was very satisfactory. With what the trader possessed of human merchandise in his pens, he could satisfy the demands from the interior, and barter slaves for ivory teeth and those “hannas” of copper, a kind of St. Andrew’s cross, in which form this metal is carried into the center of Africa.
The overseers were also complimented. As for the porters, the trader gave orders that their salary should be immediately paid them.
Jose-Antonio Alvez and Coimbra spoke a kind of Portuguese mingled with a native idiom, which a native of Lisbon would scarcely have understood. Dick Sand could not hear what these merchants were saying. Were they talking of him and his companions, so treacherously joined to the persons in the convoy? The young man could not doubt it, when, at a gesture from the Arab, Ibn Hamis, an overseer, went toward the pen where Tom, Austin, Bat and Acteon had been shut up.
Almost immediately the four Americans were led before Alvez.
Dick Sand slowly approached. He wished to lose nothing of this scene.
Alvez’s face lit up at the sight of these few well-made blacks, to whom rest and more abundant food had promptly restored their natural vigor. He looked with contempt at old Tom, whose age would affect his value, but the other three would sell high at the next Kazounde sale.
Alvez remembered a few English words which some agents, like the American, Harris, had taught him, and the old monkey thought he would ironically welcome his new slaves.
Tom understood the trader’s words; he at once advanced, and, showing his companions, said:
“We are free men—citizens of the United States.”
Alvez certainly understood him; he replied with a good-humored grimace, wagging his head:
“Yes, yes, Americans! Welcome, welcome!”
“Welcome,” added Coimbra.
He advanced toward Austin, and like a merchant who examines a sample, after having felt his chest and his shoulders, he wanted to make him open his mouth, so as to see his teeth.
But at this moment Signor Coimbra received in his face the worst blow that a major’s son had ever caught.
Alvez’s confidant staggered under it.
Several soldiers threw themselves on Austin, who would perhaps pay dearly for this angry action.
Alvez stopped them by a look. He laughed, indeed, at the misfortune of his friend, Coimbra, who had lost two of the five or six teeth remaining to him.
Alvez did not intend to have his merchandise injured. Then, he was of a gay disposition, and it was a long time since he had laughed so much.
Meanwhile, he consoled the much discomfited Coimbra, and the latter, helped to his feet, again took his place near the trader, while throwing a menacing look at the audacious Austin.
At this moment Dick Sand, driven forward by an overseer, was led before Alvez.
The latter evidently knew all about the young man, whence he came, and how he had been taken to the camp on the Coanza.
So he said, after having given him an evil glance:
“The little Yankee!”
“Yes, Yankee!” replied Dick Sand. “What do they wish to do with my companions and me?”
“Yankee! Yankee! Yankee!” repeated Alvez.
Did he not or would he not understand the question put to him?
A second time Dick Sand asked the question regarding his companions and himself. He then turned to Coimbra, whose features, degraded as they were by the abuse of alcoholic liquors, he saw were not of native origin.
Coimbra repeated the menacing gesture already made at Austin, and did not answer.
During this time Alvez talked rapidly with the Arab, Ibn Hamis, and evidently of things that concerned Dick Sand and his friends.
No doubt they were to be again separated, and who could tell if another chance to exchange a few words would ever again be offered them.
“My friends,” said Dick, in a low voice, and as if he were only speaking to himself, “just a few words! I have received, by Dingo, a letter from Hercules. He has followed the caravan. Harris and Negoro took away Mrs. Weldon, Jack, and Mr. Benedict. Where? I know not, if they are not here at Kazounde. Patience! courage! Be ready at any moment. God may yet have pity on us!”
“And Nan?” quickly asked old Tom.
“Nan is dead!”
“The first!”
“And the last!” replied Dick Sand, “for we know well——”
At this moment a hand was laid on his shoulder, and he heard these words, spoken in the amiable voice which he knew only too well:
“Ah, my young friend, if I am not mistaken! Enchanted to see you again!”
Dick Sand turned.
Harris was before him.
“Where is Mrs. Weldon?” cried Dick Sand, walking toward the American.
“Alas!” replied Harris, pretending a pity that he did not feel, “the poor mother! How could she survive!”
“Dead!” cried Dick Sand. “And her child?”
“The poor baby!” replied Harris, in the same tone, “how could he outlive such fatigue!”
So, all whom