Part 12 (1/2)

BOATSWAIN. Come, avast, belay the lanyards of your jaws, and let's have no more of it, d' ye see. [_BOATSWAIN pipes._] Make fast that boat along side there.

[_Exeunt ev'ry man to his station._

SCENE IV. _LORD KIDNAPPER comes up on the quarter-deck._

KIDNAPPER. Well, my brave blacks, are you come to list?

CUDJO. Eas, ma.s.sa Lord, you preazee.

KIDNAPPER. How many are there of you?

CUDJO. Twenty-two, ma.s.sa.

KIDNAPPER. Very well, did you all run away from your masters?

CUDJO. Eas, ma.s.sa Lord, eb'ry one, me too.

KIDNAPPER. That's clever; they have no right to make you slaves, I wish all the Negroes wou'd do the same, I'll make 'em free--what part did you come from?

CUDJO. Disse brack man, disse one, disse one, disse one, disse one, come from Hamton, disse one, disse one, disse one, come from Nawfok, me come from Nawfok too.

KIDNAPPER. Very well, what was your master's name?

CUDJO. Me ma.s.sa name Cunney Tomsee.

KIDNAPPER. Colonel Thompson--eigh?

CUDJO. Eas, ma.s.sa, Cunney Tomsee.

KIDNAPPER. Well then I'll make you a major--and what's your name?

CUDJO. Me ma.s.sa cawra me Cudjo.

KIDNAPPER. Cudjo?--very good--was you ever christened, Cudjo?

CUDJO. No ma.s.sa, me no crissen.

KIDNAPPER. Well, then I'll christen you--you shall be called Major Cudjo Thompson, and if you behave well, I'll soon make you a greater man than your master, and if I find the rest of you behave well, I'll make you all officers, and after you have serv'd Lord Paramount a while, you shall have money in your pockets, good clothes on your backs, and be as free as them white men there. [_Pointing forward to a parcel of Tories._]

CUDJO. Tankee, ma.s.sa, gaw bresse, ma.s.sa Kidnap.

SAILOR. [_Aside._] What a d.a.m.n'd big mouth that Cudjo has--as large as our main hatch-way----

COOK. [_Aside._] Aye, he's come to a wrong place to make a good use of it--it might stand some little chance at a Lord Mayor's feast.

KIDNAPPER. Now go forward, give 'em something to eat and drink there.

[_Aside._] Poor devils, they look half starved and naked like ourselves.