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PLAN OF ESCAPE—JUANA AND THE GUARDS—A STRATAGEM.

The stars burned like lamps in the clear, Indian
skies. The air was motionless, and broken only by
some alarmed bird fluttering chirpingly from tree to
tree, or the suppressed moan of the surge---profound
silence reigned without and within the deep chambers
of the grotto.

The guard, posted rather to give the alarm when
vessels approached the shore, than to guard the prisoners,
paced slowly along the terrace in front of the
cavern, with his cutlass resting carelessly upon his
left arm. The deck of the schooner below him was
covered with sleepers, who, after the fatigues of the
day, had thrown themselves upon it, in various positions.
The remainder of the outlaw's crew were
sleeping in the magazine of the cave, where Lafitte
had passed the preceding night.

The outlaw himself, after promenading the passage
in which we left him, a long time in troubled
thought, threw himself upon the cold pavement,
and also slept; but his dreams were of his lovely
captive.

He was kneeling before an altar in a gloomy and

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gorgeous temple, beside a veiled female. A priest,
in rich robes, was in the act of pronouncing a blessing
over them. He was about to press her to his
heart, when she suddenly changed to the bleeding
corse of his young brother. He cried with horror
and awoke.

Again he dreamed Constanza was struggling in
the sea. He sprang into the flood to save her, when
a gigantic monster, with large, beautiful eyes---a
knife buried in his bosom, and blood oozing from
his temples, caught her from his grasp, and conveyed
her from his sight, into the depths of the
ocean. With a convulsed frame, he started from
his dream.

A third time he slept. He was in the cathedral
of New Orleans, and about to be united to Constanza,
who stood beside him, veiled in white.
She was just parting her lips to pronounce the
solemn words which should unite their destinies
forever, when the priest removed his mask, cast off
his robes, and clasped her in his arms. It was the
Count D'Oyley.

In the mean time, the count was in the
chamber, lighted by a single lamp, where he had
been borne the preceding night; but he slept not.
Constanza, with her head resting upon his shoulder,
slumbered peacefully, and her dreams were all of
happiness.

“Constanza, my love! awake!” said her lover,
gently touching her closed eyes.

He had long been engaged in ruminating upon
his condition, upon the character of Lafitte, and
the probability that he would be in the same mind
in the morning, with regard to their liberation.

The more he reflected, the greater his doubts
became, and when he recalled, with a feeling of
apprehension and indignation, the language, tone,
and manner, of the outlaw, in his interview with

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him in the morning, the detached sentences he had
overheard when his footsteps interrupted his soliloquy,
his confidence in his promises failed, and he
at once resolved to make his escape before day;
fearing even to remain through the night, subject
to the caprice of his captor.

“Awake, love!” he said, softly, as he came to
this determination.

“What, Alphonse, is it you? Are there more
trials for me?” and she looked up into his
face, with her eloquent eyes, suddenly suffused with
tears, and clinging to his arm, with nervous apprehension.

“No, my Constanza—I think we may escape
from this place—I dare not trust Captain Lafitte's
firmness till the morning.”

“Oh, have you fresh cause for alarm or suspicion?
Tell me! Leave me not in suspense;”
and she looked with an alarmed manner into his
face.

“No, love! but I fear he may change his mind,
he is an impulsive being, and if we can escape, it
will not be prudent to remain till morning.”

“You have heard something, dear Alphonse!
I know you have, that leads you to this sudden
step, and you are still so weak—oh, tell me all!”
she added, earnestly—“am I not worthy of your
confidence.”

“All, all confidence, dearest!—Your suspicions
are true! Not long since, when I walked along
the passage to breathe the cooler air, at the mouth
of the cave, I heard the voice of Lafitte, as you tell
me is his habit, in soliloquy. Thinking I might
learn something which in our situation, could be
improved to advantage, I cautiously approached
the gallery, along which he was pacing backwards
and forwards, and heard sufficient to alarm me for
your safety and my own, and to lead me to place

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but slight confidence in his promise, to take us to
Port-au-Prince to-morrow, will you not second me,
dearest?”

“Can we escape, Alphonse? and why should
we fear to trust Lafitte? He is impulsive, it is
true, but would not, I think, err intentionally, or
deceive us. But I will go with you, dearest! never
will I be separated from you again! Whom do I
love or have to love or care for me, but you, my
Alphonse! Oh, let us go:—he may, indeed, be in
another mood in the morning,” she added, hastily,
as some part of his first interview with her flashed
on her mind, “Oh, I fear—fear him much. I will
go with you, let us hasten—but how?”

“There was a felucca at the foot of the rock,
which I saw, as I was brought in, a prisoner, containing
a small mast. It was lying opposite the
long passage. If we can gain this boat, unperceived,
in an hour we will be beyond pursuit, and,
with a light breeze, by to-morrow evening, be able
to reach Port-au-Prince Now let us arrange our
plan.”

“Shall I waken Juana?”

“You would best, she may assist us materially.”

The slave, who was asleep in the extremity of
the chamber, was roused, with difficulty, from her
heavy and dreamless sleep, by the count, who was
now excited and cheerful, with the prospect of being
soon far from the presence and power of one whom
he suspected to be his rival, and from whom, consequently,
he had every thing to fear. Besides his
desire for personal liberty, he experienced the intensest
anxiety for the safety and happiness of
Constanza, whose health and mind, already affected
by what she had passed through, he feared
would be materially injured, if she should be again
exposed to exciting scenes, or, in the morning, meet
with disappointment.

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He was, therefore, desirous of removing her, at
once, to a place of security and quietude.

The old slave was informed of their project, to
which she listened with attention and pleasure.

“Old Juana tink, massa Doly better wait till
morning come, 'caus if massa Lafitte sa' he let lily
lady and buckra gemman go free---dey sure go---
as Juana 'tan here—but den, if de lily Missy 'fraid
Juana jess go 'long wid her.”

“Thank you, Juana,” said Constanza, “we
find, that if escape is possible, we had best leave the
cave to-night. In the morning, perhaps, the crew
of the vessel might, as they often do, oppose his
his commands, and we should then be lost.”

“Juan' know dat, well 'nough!—How tink you
get out, massa Doly?---de guard 'tan at de mouf.---
de schooner down in de basin, full of men---Its
mighty diffikil to get way---Massa Doly,” she said,
shaking her head, impressively.

“Speak low, Juana,” said the count. “Listen!”
we have thought of this plan. You have a husband
on the schooner, I am told. Pass the guard,
and say you wish to take some articles of clothing
to him---he will permit it---this carpet, and these
provisions, to place in the boat, shall pass as the
clothing---descend to the vessel---let the watch on
deck see you---speak to him, but do not go below---
take your opportunity, and drop the articles into the
felucca, or the schooner's boat, if you find it alongside---again
speak to the watch, and ply him with
this spirit which I give you, tell him you wish to
return for something, and that master Théodore
may come back with you. Leave the impression,
that is, make him believe, that you will soon be
there, with Théodore. Tell the guard the same,
and do not forget to ply the bottle freely. Then, if
you can find a cap and cloak, belonging to Theodore,
bring it with you here, and I will then tell you

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further our plans. Do you understand what I have
said?”

“Is, massa Doly, ol' Juana no fool! She know
jiss how to do. Leave Juana to herself.”

Taking the flask of spirits, which had been left
by the side of the invalid, and muttering, “Juana
no de root put in dis, if massa Doly want make
sleep come,” the old African disappeared in the
darkness of the passage. In a few moments her
footsteps died away, and the lovers, in silence and
expectation, awaited her return.

Half-way through the cave she turned into a
niche, in which were many cooking utensils, and,
taking a bundle of dry leaves and roots, from an
aperture, she dropped a portion in the flask, and
pursued her way to the mouth of the grotto.

“Who is there?” said the guard, as the dark
form of the old slave emerged from the gloom of the
cavern.

“What for you speak so loud and cross, Gil?—
nobody but ol' nigger—don't be frighten.”

“Diablo!—Juana, you are ugly enough to frighten
the devil”—he replied with a loud laugh, “what
are you crawling about for this time of night?”

“I want to see my ol' husband—an' car' dese
tings to him—You know Gil--I've been among
wid dis purty lilly lady, dis more dan week.”

“Ah, ha, the Castillian,” said Gil with a smile,
“she is pretty, Juana—you two together must very
well personate light and darkness. But where is
the lady that our wise captain loves so well as to
give his own share of booty for her ransom?--
Sancta Maria! but he must have taken a vow of
chastity.”

“You mity quisitive Gil--such as you no more
shouldnt open your two ugly eye, to look at such a
lady---dan notin' at all.”

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“Ho now Juana---you jealous,”---he replied tapping
her on the cheek---“But what have you in
that flask—the pure Jamaica or purer Santa Crux—
this goes to old blubber lip, the steward, I will
wager, I must take a sip to see if it is not too hot
for the old boy's stomach. You must be tender of
your better half in his old age, Juana.—Ha—peh!
peh! but this is made of the true grape. Hold, good
Juana! don't be in haste. Let old Crisp sleep, he
would rather rest his venerable limbs now, than
smack his lips over the best quart of aquardiente he
ever stole from the captain's cask”

“Dere Gil, you hab drink 'nough”—she cried
interrupting him and seizing the flask “now jess
hol' dis tight,” she said walking out on a broad
plank extending from the terrace to the cross trees
of the schooner.

Assisted by Gil the old woman carefully descended
the shrouds to the deck, which was strewn
with the wearied and sleeping crew.

The watch drowsily leaned against the binnacle
with a half-smoked and fireless segar in his lips; but
as she approached him, he started when he discovered
her by the light of a lantern, which hung in
the companion-way.

“Juana, my beauty, are you picking the men's
pockets of their spare reals?—come here and let me
talk with you!”

“Diego, how you do—it long time I seen you—
how is my Crisp?”

“Why, just like yourself, Juana; he grows
handsomer as they call the change in Congo, that
is, blacker every day.”

“Well I'm glad to know dat—I'se come aboard
to see him—How long you been on watch, Diego?”

“It is four bells since, and now you've come it's
five, my beautiful girl,”—he replied, with mock-gallantry.

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“Now jess stop wid dat nonsense, Diego; you're
always flattering me—I'se got ol' and wrinkly
now.”---

“Yet you've broken many a black lover's heart in
your day---when you lived in Louisiana; is it not so,
bel' Juana?”

“I can't stop talk now---Diego,”---said she complacently,
“have you been two hours on watch?
and no drink, noffin all time I dare say.”

“You say most truly and sadly, good Juana,” he
replied, “Since Matéo got drunk on watch, and let
a barge full of men come aboard of us, there's no
more drinking.”

“Juana know dat, Diego, well 'nough, and she
just bring some---fin to keep the dew from soaking
de heart. I don't forget when you nurse my Crisp,
when he got he head broke.---Dere, Diego---take
two, tree swallow, and gib it back to me.”

“Miraculo; my queen of clubs,” he replied, gaily,
“but you are a goddess! well this is good---madre
de dios! where got you such double distilled
nectar? but never mind where it come from so that
we know where it goes to,” he added, placing the
mouth of the flask to his own, and quaffing most
generous draughts. “Bah, but you are a jewel,
Juana. What's that you cast in the boat?” he
added suddenly, and looking over the side.

“Only two, tree tings belong to Crisp. I don't
like go below, and sturb dem sleep, dere, you tell
him in de mornin', his close dere in de boat. Is
massa Thèodore 'board?”

“No, it is his next watch too—he'll not be down
in time, I fear.”

“Neber you fear, Diego, I'll bring him 'long. I'm
comin down by and by to bring Crisp he jacket,
an I'll wake him, and he'll come wid me. Just gib
me one of his cap and him watch coat.” Diego readily
brought them, and said,

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“Well, Juana, you are a nice girl,---stay, let me
take another sip at that flask. I would kiss you,
Juana, for this,” he added, taking the flask from his
lips with a sigh; “but the spirit on my breath might
give offence. I never kiss, fair Juana, after taking
wine, without first smoking the flavour off with
genuine Habana.”

“Good bye, Diego, I must go; you al'ays mity
'ticular gemman,” she replied, turning to go.

“Adios, Juana, my jetty angel! such spiritual
visits as your's are always welcome to Diego.”

The old slave, satisfied that she had given him
enough to intoxicate him, after carefully threading
her way through the sleeping crew, slowly ascended
the shrouds; while Diego, already excited by his
frequent and potent draughts at the mouth of the
flask, began to sing a Spanish bacchanalian song,
parodied from Moreto, by some Castillian Lyceus,
commencing---

“Gil, you gone sleep! fy, Gil! guard go sleep on
pos',” said she, stepping on to the terrace, approaching
and shaking him, as he leaned against the face
of the rock.

“Dimonios! what, old black witch?” he grumbled,
ill-humouredly; “gi—give me my aq—a—
aquardiente---to, diablo! but it is good,” he continued,
as he took another draught.

“You hab 'nuff; you drunk now, Gil?” she said
inquiringly, wishing to ascertain how far her stratagem
had taken effect.

“Give me more, yo---you hag---mor---more, or I'll
bl---blow (hiccough) you in t-t-the (hiccough) s-sea---
hic, do---hic---do you hear---hugh!” and he drew a

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pistol from his belt, and the expression of his face
became ferocious.

“Dere, take little sip more, Gil---dere, 'nuff, now;”
and she snatched the bottle from him, at the same
time dexterously spilling a part of its contents over
the priming of both pistols.

“Curse you, Sathan's dam!” he quickly exclaimed;
“is that the way you use good liq---liquor.”
Then, after a pause, he added, incoherently, “how
thick the sta---stars are, and what other schoon---
schooner's lying side the Gertrude---miraculo! Ju---
Juana---you are de---d---double---(hiccough)---gi---
gi---give me one of them flasks in your ha---hand,”
and the intoxicated guard, no longer able to articulate
distinctly, or support himself against the wall,
slipped gradually from his upright position, and lay
upon his side with his cheek resting upon the cold
stone.

Satisfied with the manner in which she had obeyed
her instructions, the slave hastened into the
grotto, where the count and Constanza were waiting
her return with apprehension and anxiety.