Part 25 (2/2)
The explanation was not very clear to Golcher, but he was satisfied the limb was badly sprained, and he cared nothing further. It rendered what might have been a dangerous prisoner comparatively harmless, which was a good thing while the main party of Indians were away, engaged in entrapping the fugitives, whose possession was so much more valuable.
”All you folks got into the cavern, down among the rocks over there, thinkin' you was safe, didn't you?”
”We crept in dar not 'cause we thought it war safe, but 'cause it war the bestest thing we could do.”
”Do you know anything about Fred G.o.dfrey?”
”Yes; he hab de honor ob my 'quaintance.”
”That isn't what I mean: do you know where he is?”
”I tink he am ober on de oder side ob de riber slewing Injins and Tories.”
It will be recollected that Gravity left the cavern before the lieutenant put in his appearance, and the African therefore knew nothing of his presence with his friends.
”Wal,” growled Golcher, finding it hard to repress the anger that was gnawing at his heart; ”the trouble to-day has been that too many of the rebels got slewed themselves; if it hadn't been for that, things would have gone different; but that G.o.dfrey will be with the party up in the rocks afore long.”
”Guess you're 'bout right, Ma.s.sa Golcher.”
”Do you know,” suddenly asked Golcher turning on the negro, ”that we're going to have every one of that party afore daylight?”
”No, I didn't know it; did you?”
”They'll be here inside of two hours, and then there'll be fun.”
”Reckons dere'll be a little fun afore you cotches 'em.”
”They're in the rocks, but we can rout them out whenever we want to; they think we don't know what they're doing, but Gray Panther hasn't missed anything.”
”I noticed that Ma.s.sa Brainerd didn't miss either, when he plugged dem Injuns dat was trying to sneak in behind the rocks.”
”See here,” exclaimed Golcher, turning upon him; ”you'd better keep a civil tongue in your head.”
”Dat's all right--I was jes' joking wid you--but, if you hain't any 'bjection, Ma.s.sa Golcher, I'd like to know what yer gwine to do wid me?
Am yer gwine ter take me up in York State and put me to work on a farm?”
”If you live a couple of hours longer, you'll be put through the sprouts.”
”Put frough de sprouts,” repeated Gimp, as if to himself; ”wonder what dat means.”
While this conversation was going on, the Indian who was keeping guard was seated on the other side the fire in a lounging att.i.tude, and his head now and then bobbed down on his breast in a way that showed he was partly asleep.
Gravity Gimp did not appear to notice him, but he saw every movement, and, without appearing to do so, hitched a little closer to the Tory.
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