Part 13 (2/2)

”Yes, ma.s.sa.”

”And they've got something to say to you about going to sea--would you like to go?”

The negro grinned, and as his mouth was of the largest possible size, it is not exaggeration to say that the grin extended from ear to ear, but he made no other reply.

”Well, please yourself. You're a free man--you may do as you choose.”

Neepeelootambo, who was almost naked, having only a small piece of cloth wrapped round his waist and loins, grinned again, displaying a double row of teeth worthy of a shark in so doing, and led his new friends from the house.

”Now,” said Tim Rokens, turning to the negro, and pointing along the sh.o.r.e, ”we'll go along this way and jaw the matter over. Business first, and pleasure, if ye can get it, arterwards--them's my notions, Nip--Nip--Nippi--what's your name?”

”Coo Tumble, I think,” suggested Briant.

”Ay, Nippiloo b.u.mble--wot a jaw-breaker! so git along, old boy.”

The negro, who was by no means an ”old boy,” but a stalwart man in the prime of life, stepped out, and as they walked along, both Rokens and Briant did their best to persuade him to s.h.i.+p on board the _Red Eric_, but without success. They were somewhat surprised as well as chagrined, having been led to expect that the man would consent at once. But no alluring pictures of the delights of seafaring life, or the pleasures and excitements of the whale-fishery, had the least effect on their sable companion. Even sundry shrewd hints, thrown out by Phil Briant, that ”the steward had always command o' the wittles, and that his a.s.sistant would only have to help himself when convanient,” failed to move him.

”Well, Nippi-Boo-Tumble,” cried Tim Rokens, who in his disappointment unceremoniously contracted his name, ”it's my opinion--private opinion, mark'ee--that you're a a.s.s, an' you'll come for to repent of it.”

”Troth, Nippi-b.u.mble, he's about right,” added Briant coaxingly. ”Come now, avic, wot's the raisin ye won't go? Sure we ain't blackguards enough to ax ye to come for to be sold; it's all fair and above board.

Why won't ye, now?”

The negro stopped, and turning towards them, drew himself proudly up; then, as if a sudden thought had occurred to him, he advanced a step and held up his forefinger to impose silence.

”You no tell what I go to say? at least, not for one, two day.”

”Niver a word, honour bright,” said Phil, in a confidential tone, while Rokens expressed the same sentiment by means of an emphatic wink and nod.

”You mus' know,” said the negro, earnestly, ”me expec's to be made a king!”

”A wot?” exclaimed both his companions in the same breath, and very much in the same tone.

”A king.”

”Wot?” said Rokens; ”d'ye mean, a ruler of this here country?”

Neepeelootambo nodded his head so violently that it was a marvel it remained on his shoulders.

”Yis. Ho! ho! ho! 'xpec's to be a king.”

”And when are ye to be crowned, b.u.mble?” inquired Briant, rather sceptically, as they resumed their walk.

”Oh, me no say me _goin'_ to be king; me only _'xpec's_ dat.”

”Werry good,” returned Rokens; ”but wot makes ye for to expect it?”

”Aha! Me berry clebber fellow--know most ebbery ting. Me hab doo'd good service to dis here country. Me can fight like one leopard, and me hab kill great few elephant and gorilla. Not much mans here hab shoot de gorilla, him sich terriferick beast; 'bove five foot six tall, and bigger round de breast dan you or me--dat is a great true fact. Also, me can spok Englis'.”

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