Part 3 (2/2)
Accordingly, as soon as Terry thought of this, he put it in practice.
He began by shaking hands once more, and then said to them, ”Me berry glad see you--me sposy you berry hundy. Polly want a cracker.
He sall hab penty mate den, so he sall. Did de naughty water boos um den?”
But unfortunately this effort proved as much of a failure as the other; so Terry was once more compolled to trust to his wits. Those wits of his, being active, did not fail, indeed, to suggest many ways, and of the best kind, by which he brought himself into communication with his new friends. At the first repast he found this out, and insisted upon pa.s.sing everything to them with his own hands, accompanying each friendly offer with an affectionate smile, which went straight to the hearts of the forlorn and half-starved guests.
This was a language which was every way intelligible, the language of universal humanity, in which the n.o.blest precept is, to be kind to enemies and to feed the hungry.
In addition to this, Terry also found out other ways of holding communication with them, the chief of which was by the language of song. Terry's irrepressible tendency to singing thus burst forth in their presence, and after trolling out a few Irish melodies, he succeeded in eliciting from them a sympathetic response in the shape of some lively French songs. The result proved most delightful to all concerned; and thereafter the muse of Ireland and the muse of France kept up a perpetual antiphonal song, which beguiled many a tedious hour.
While the various characters on board the schooner were thus entering into communication with one another, Zac endeavored also to sc.r.a.pe an acquaintance with one of the rescued party, who seemed to him to be worth all the rest put together. This was Mimi's maid, Margot, a beautiful little creature, full of life and spirit, and fit companion for such a mistress as hers. The good little Margot was very accessible, and had not failed to pour forth in language not very intelligible her sense of grat.i.tude to Zac. She had not forgotten that it was Zac who had conveyed her in his strong arms from death to life, and therefore persisted in regarding him not only as the preserver of her own self, but as the real and only preserver of all the others.
Margot had one advantage which was delightful to Zac; and that was, she could speak a little English. She had once spent a year in England, where she had picked up enough of the language to come and go upon, and this knowledge now proved to be of very great advantage.
The calm weather which continued gave Zac many opportunities of drifting away towards Margot, and talking with her, in which talks they gradually grew to be better acquainted.
”I am so happy zat I spik Ingelis!” said Margot; ”I nevar did sink dat it was evare useful.”
”An' pooty blamed lucky it's ben for me, too,” said Zac, in a joyous tone; ”for as I don't know French, like Claude over there, I have to trust to you to keep up the conversation.”
”I not know mooch Ingelis,” said Margot, ”for I not understan de mooch of what you say.”
”O, you'll learn dreadful fast out here,” said Zac.
”But I not weesh to stay here so long as to learn,” said Margot.
”Not wis.h.!.+ Sho, now! Why, it's a better country than France.”
”Than France--better!” cried Margot, lifting her hands and throwing up her eyes in amazement. ”France! Monsieur, France is a heaven--mais--dees--dees--is different.”
”Why, what's the matter with America?” said Zac.
”Amerique--eet ees all full of de sauvage--de Indian--de wild men--an' wild beasts--an' desert.”
”O, you ain't ben to Boston; that's clar,” said Zac, mildly. ”Jest you wait till you see Boston; that's all.”
”Boston! I nevare hear of Boston,” said Margot, ”till you tell me. I do not believe eet it is more magnifique dan Paris.”
”The most magnificent town in the hull world,” said Zac, calmly. ”You take the House of a.s.sembly an' Govement House--take King Street and Queen Street, an' I'd like to know whar you'll find a better show any whar on airth.”
”Sais pas,” said Margot; ”nevare see Boston. Mais vous--you nevare see Paris--so we are not able to compare.”
”O, well, it's nat'ral enough for you,” said Zac, with magnanimity, ”nat'ral enough for you, course, to like your own place best--'twouldn't be nat'ral ef you didn't. All your friends live thar, course. You were born thar, and I s'pose your pa an' ma may be there now, anxiously expectin' to hear from you.”
Zac put this in an interrogative way, for he wanted to know. But as he said these words, the smiling face of Margot turned sad; she shook her head, and said,--
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