She kept herself in hand, and did not show
confusion.
"We had not heard of the rising of the Maroons," she said. "The governor
was at Salem yesterday and a message came from his staff to say would he
come at once. His staff were not at Salem, but at the next plantation
nearer to Spanish Town. Lord Mallow went. If he suspected the real
trouble he said naught, but was gone before you could realize it. The
hours went by, night came and passed, then my mother and I, this morning,
resolved to ride to the monastery, and then round by the road you
travelled back to Salem."
"There are Maroons now on that hill above your place. They were in
ambush when we passed, but we took no notice. It was not wise to invite
trouble. Some of us would have been killed, but--"
He then told what had been in his mind, and what might be the outcome--
the killing or capture of the whole group, and safety for all at Salem.
When he had finished, she continued her story. "We rode for an hour
unchallenged, and then came the Maroons. At first I knew not what to do.
We were surrounded before we could act.
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