Part 31 (1/2)
The negro's argument was logical, and Christy admitted its force, and expressed his willingness to pay the price demanded.
”Five dollars for de boat, ma.s.sa, and ten dollars for tellin' de whole truf,” added Quimp.
”All right, my man,” added the lieutenant.
”Yes, sar; but I want de money now, sar,” said Quimp, extending his hand to receive it; and Christy thought he was very sharp for one in his position.
”I will pay you when you have imparted the information,” he replied; and, for some reason he could not explain, he was not satisfied with the conduct of the negro.
He was altogether too shrewd for one who appeared to be so stupid. The expression of cunning in his face told against him, and perhaps it was this more than anything else that prejudiced the officer. He took it for granted that he should have to take the boatman off to the Bellevite with him, and that it would be time enough to pay him on board of the s.h.i.+p.
”Dat won't do, ma.s.sa!” protested Quimp earnestly. ”What you tink?
Suppose dar is a steamer in de bay loaded wid cotton, all ready to quit for somewhar. Do you tink, ma.s.sa, I can go on bord of her wid you? No, sar! Dis n.i.g.g.e.r lose his head for sartin if dem uns knows I pilot you to dat steamer. You done got two eyes, ma.s.sa, and you can see it for sh.o.r.e.”
”But I can protect you, Quimp,” suggested Christy.
”No, sar! All de sojers in de Yankee camp could not save me, sar. De first man dat sees me will knive me in de heart, or cut my froat from one ear to de oder!” protested Quimp more earnestly than before, though he manifested no terror in his words or manner.
”Very well, Quimp; I will pay you the money as soon as we see the steamer or other vessel, and then a.s.sist you to make your escape,”
replied Christy. ”I will go a step farther, and pay you for the boat now; but I will not pay you the ten dollars till you show us a vessel.”
While the negro was scratching his head to stimulate his ideas, the officer handed him a gold sovereign and a s.h.i.+lling of English money, provided for his visit to Bermuda and Na.s.sau, which made a little more than five dollars.
”I don't reckon a gemman like you would cheat a poor n.i.g.g.e.r,” said Quimp, while his eyes were still glowing with delight at the sight of the money in his hand.
”Certainly not, my man,” replied Christy, laughing at the idea. ”Just as soon as I get my eye on the steamer of which you speak, I will pay you the ten dollars in gold and silver.”
”I don't know much about dis yere money, ma.s.sa,” said the boatman, still studying the coin.
”The gold piece is an English sovereign, worth about four dollars and eighty-five cents; and the silver coin is a s.h.i.+lling, worth very nearly a quarter of a dollar; so that I have paid you over five dollars.”
”Yes, sar, tank you, sar. Cap'n Stopfoot fotched over some ob de money like dat from Na.s.sau, and I done seen it.”
”But I can't stop to talk all day, Quimp,” continued Christy impatiently. ”If you are going to do anything to earn your ten dollars, it is time for you to be about it.”
”Yes, sar; I will told you all about it, ma.s.sa.”
”No long yarns, my man!” protested the officer, as Quimp seated himself in the stern sheets as though he intended to tell a long story.
”Yes, ma.s.sa; told you all about it in a bref. De wind done blow fresh from de norf-west for t'ree days; dat's what Ma.s.sa Cap'n Stopfoot say,”
Quimp began.
”No matter what Captain Stopfoot says!” Christy interposed. ”Tell me where the steamer is, if there is any steamer in the bay. We will stop the foot and the mouth of Captain Stopfoot when we come to him.”
”Well, sar, if you don't want to har dis n.i.g.g.e.r's yarn, he'll shet up all to onct,” replied Quimp, standing on his dignity.
”Go on, then; but make it short,” added Christy, finding it would take less time to get what he wanted out of the negro by letting him have his own way. ”Wind fresh from the north-west for three days.”