Part 3 (1/2)
And Alex. did have a fis.h.!.+ It was firmly hooked, and came flopping out of the water when he drew in the line. Still under the table, with his eyes on the bear, the rescued negro boy licked his chops when he saw it. Clay observed the action and went to him. After a time the little fellow was coaxed out of his hiding-place.
”That's a pet bear!” explained Clay. ”He won't bite you!”
The boy seemed to want to believe the other, for the sake of the fish supper which appeared to be coming soon, but he edged away from the cub, all the same!
”You hungry?” asked Case, coming up.
The little fellow nodded, and Case went on.
”What's your name?”
”Abraham Lincoln Charles Sumner Horace Greeley Banks!”
The little chap repeated the names in a sing-song tone, with the air of one who had been carefully drilled in the repet.i.tion. The boys broke into shouts of laughter, and even Teddy Bear nosed his way through the little group and stood gazing at the negro boy with reproving eyes! The boy tried to dodge away, but Clay held him fast.
”Jerusalem!” Case cried, as soon as he could control his voice. ”What a name! Where did you get it, chile?”
”Mah mammy done 'stowed it on me!” was the reply.
”Well, it is too long,” Clay decided, ”so we'll just call you Mose! Do you happen to be hungry, little one?” he added, with a glance at the fish.
In answer the boy laid his hands on the region of his stomach and grinned.
”Where do you live?” asked Alex., ringing the water out of his clothes, which had been removed as soon as he reached the deck. ”What will your mammy say to your going off on the river? She'll wallop you, chile, good an' plenty!”
”I done run away!” answered the boy.
”That's two to-night!” grinned Alex., preparing to dress the fish for supper. ”How many more are we likely to find before we get to the Gulf?”
Teddy Bear, who seemed to feel that he was deserving of some attention for having rescued Mose from instant death in the river, now came up and brushed his soft nose over the boys' hand. Mose's eyes grew wider, but, seeing that the bear did not offer to bite, he ventured to stroke his head, whereat the cub sat up on his hind feet and asked to have a boxing lesson!
”That bear is a spoiled child!” Case remarked, as Teddy began sparing.
”He is no good at all--just a clown!”
”Where did you run from?” asked Jule, anxious to know more of the negro boy.
”San Louee,” was the reply. ”I done lived on th' levee!”
”From St. Louis, eh?” Clay said. ”Where do you want to go?”
”I done hire out to you all,” was the reply.
”Of course!” Alex. laughed. ”Didn't we bring him up out of the waters?
He'll make a fine playmate for Teddy Bear!”
”If he doesn't disappear, as that other waif did,” smiled Clay.
”Where do you suppose that boy went to?” asked Alex. ”He never swam to sh.o.r.e, that is, to the other sh.o.r.e, and if he had landed on the pier when the men came on board they would certainly have seen him. I reckon the darkness just ate him!”