And shipwrecked I am, body, soul, and spirit, he muttered, bitterly, as he sat in his cabin, brooding over the past and future.
Leaving him there, and thus, we will return to Ratinga, the peaceful inhabitants of which were destined at this time to be tickled with several little shocks of more or less agreeable surprise.
One of these shocks was the sudden disappearance of Zariffa, the native missionarys brown baby. It was an insignificant event in itself, and is only mentioned because of its having led indirectly to events of greater importance.
Zariffa had, by that time, passed out of the condition of brown-babyhood. She had, to her own intense delight, been promoted to the condition of a decently-clad little savage. In addition to the scuttle bonnet which was not quite so tremulous as that of her mother, she now sported a blue flannel petticoat. This was deemed sufficient for her, the climate being warm.
Zariffa was still, however, too young to take care of herself. Great, therefore, was Betsy Waroongas alarm when she missed her one day from her little bed where she should have been sleeping.
Ebony! cried Betsy, turning sharply round and glaring, Zariffas gone.
Quite dead, exclaimed the negro, aghast.
Not at all dead, said Betsy; but gonegone hout of hers bed.
Dat no great misfortin, missis, returned Ebony, with a sigh of relief.
Its little you knows, stoopid feller, returned the native missionarys wife, while her coal-scuttle shook with imparted emotion; Zariffa never disbeyed me in hers life. Shes lost. We must seekseek quick!
The sympathetic negro became again anxious, and looked hastily under the chairs and tables for the lost one, while her mother opened and searched a corner cupboard that could not have held a child half her size. Then the pair became more and more distracted as each excited the other, and ran to the various outhouses shouting, Zariffa! anxiously, entreatingly, despairing.
They gathered natives as they ran, hither and thither, searching every nook and corner, and burst at last in an excited crowd into the presence of Waroonga himself, who was in the act of detailing the history of Joseph to a select class of scholars, varying from seven to seventeen years of age.
Oh! massa, Zariffas lost! cried Ebony.
Waroonga glanced quickly at his wife. The excessive agitation of her bonnet told its own tale. The missionary threw Joseph overboard directly, proclaimed a holiday, and rushed out of the school-house.
No use to go home, massa, cried Ebony; wes sarch eberywhere dar; no find her.
Has you been to the piggery? demanded the anxious father, who was well aware of his childs fondness for little squeakers.
Oh, yes; bin dar. I rousted out de ole sow for make sure Zariffa no hides behind her.
At this juncture Orlando came up with a sack of cocoa-nuts on his back. Hearing what had occurred he took the matter in hand with his wonted energy.
We must organise a regular search, he said, throwing down the sack, and go to work at once, for the day is far advanced, and we can do little or nothing after dark.
So saying he collected all the able men of the village, divided them into bands, gave them minute, though hurried, directions where they were to go, and what signals they were to give in the event of the child being found; and then, heading one of the bands, he joined eagerly in the search. But, before going, he advised Betsy Waroonga to keep his mother company, as women could not be of much use in such work.
No, said Mrs Waroonga, with decision; we will go home an pray.
Right, that will be better, said Orlando. You go back with her, Ebony, and fetch my gun. I left it in Waroongas house when I went in for a sack to hold the cocoa-nuts. It is behind the door. Youll find me searching in the palm-grove. Now, boys, away; weve no time to lose.
Returning to her house with her sable attendant, poor Betsy rushed into her private apartment threw herself on her knees and half across her lowly bed in an agony of alarm.
She was startled and horrified by a sharp, though smothered cry, while some living creature heaved under the bed-clothes. Instantly she swept them off, and lo! there lay Zariffa safe and well, though somewhat confused by her rude awaking and her mothers weight.
Yous keep up heart, missis, said the sympathetic Ebony, looking hastily into the room in passing; wes sartin sure to find
He stopped. Blazing amazement sat on his countenance for about six momentsa pause similar to that of an injured infant just preparing for a yellthen he exploded into a fit of laughter so uncontrollable that it seemed as if a hurricane had been suddenly let loose in the room, insomuch that Betsys remonstrances were quite unheard.
Oh! missis, he exclaimed at last, wiping his eyes, Is a-goin to bust.