Part 15 (1/2)

Jack bade the Doctor good night and drove to The Spread Eagle where, before he went to bed, he wrote to his parents and a long letter to _The Pennsylvania Gazette_, describing his voyage and his arrival substantially as the facts are here recorded. Next morning he ordered every detail in his ”uniforms” for morning and evening wear and returning again to the inn found Solomon waiting in the lobby.

”Here I be,” said the scout and trapper.

”What happened to you?”

”S'arched an' shoved me into a dark hole in the wall. Ye know, Jack, with you an' me, it allus 'pears to be workin'.”

”What?”

”Good luck. Cur'us thing the papers was on you 'stid of me--ayes, sir, 'twas. Did ye hand 'em over safe?”

”Last night I put 'em in Franklin's hands.”

”Hunkidory! I'm ready fer to go hum.”

”Not yet I hope. I want you to help me see the place.”

”Wall, sir, I'll be p'intin' fer hum soon es I kin hop on a s.h.i.+p.

Couldn't stan' it here, too much noise an' deviltry. This 'ere city is like a twenty-mile bush full o' drunk Injuns--Maumees, hostyle as the devil. I went out fer a walk an' a crowd follered me eround which I don't like it. 'Look at the North American,' they kep' a-sayin'. As soon as I touched sh.o.r.e the tommyhawk landed on me. But fer Cap.

Preston I'd be in that 'ere dark hole now. He see the Jedge an' the Jedge called fer Slops an' Slops had slopped over. He were layin'

under a tree dead drunk. The Jedge let me go an' Preston come on with me. Now 'twere funny he turned up jest as he done; funny I got app'inted cook o' _The Snow_ so as I had to give that 'ere paper to you. I tell ye it's workin'--allus workin'.”

”Doctor Franklin wants to see you,” said Jack. ”Put on your Sunday clothes an' we'll go over to his house. I think I can lead you there.

If we get lost we'll jump into a cab.”

When they set out Solomon was dressed in fine shoes and brown wool stockings and drab trousers, a b.u.t.ternut jacket and blue coat, and a big, black three-cornered hat. His slouching gait and large body and weathered face and the variety of colors in his costume began at once to attract the attention of the crowd. A half-drunk harridan surveyed him, from top to toe, and made a profound bow as he pa.s.sed. A number of small boys scurried along with them, curiously staring into the face of Solomon.

”Ain't this like comin' into a savage tribe that ain't seen no civilized human bein' fer years?”

”Wot is it?” a voice shouted.

”'E's a blarsted bush w'acker from North Hamerica, 'e is,” another answered.

Jack stopped a cab and they got into it.

”Show us some of the great buildings and land us in an hour at 10 Bloomsbury Square, East,” he said.

With a sense of relief they were whisked away in the stream of traffic.

They pa.s.sed the King's palace and the great town houses of the Duke of Bedford and Lord Balcarras, each of which was pointed out by the driver. Suddenly every vehicle near them stopped, while their male occupants sat with bared heads. Jack observed a curious procession on the sidewalk pa.s.sing between two lines of halted people.

”Hit's their Majesties!” the driver whispered under his breath.

The King--a stout, red-nosed, blue-jowled man, with big, gray, staring eyes--was in a sedan chair surmounted by a crown. He was dressed in light cloth with silver b.u.t.tons. Queen Charlotte, also in a chair, was dressed in lemon colored silk ornamented with brocaded flowers. The two were smiling and bowing as they pa.s.sed. In a moment the procession entered a great gate. Then there was a crack of whips and the traffic resumed its hurried pace.

”Hit's their Majesties, sir, goin' to a drawin'-room at Lord Rawdon's, sir,” the driver explained as he drove on.

”Did you see the unnatural look in his gray eyes?” said Jack, turning to Solomon.

”Ayes! Kind o' skeered like! 'Twere a han'some yoke o' men totin'