Part 4 (1/2)
CHAPTER III
A VISIT TO THE FLAG-shi+P
I had seldoarb upon the war-trail Yet in boyhood I had occasionally ro so successfully as to deceive even my own family With this in uise than that of a foolish, huckstering darky could I hope to attain the guarded deck of that Spanish frigate This offered only the barest chance of success, yet such chances had previously served me well, and must be trusted now
Opportunity frequently opens to the push of a venturesome shoulder
Once deter each detail whichMuch was to be accomplished, and consequently it was late in the afternoon before the two of us, ro to outward appearance as my sable companion, floated anxiously down the broad river in a battered old scow heaped high with every variety of country produce obtainable Drifting with the current, I kept the blunt nose pointed directly toward the bulging side of the ”Santa Maria,” yet without venturing to glance in that direction, until a sharp challenge of the vigilant sentinel warned us to sheer off
Slowly shi+pping the heavy steering oar, finding it difficult even in that moment of suspense to suppress a smile at the expression of terror on Alphonse's black face, I stood up, awed by the sole above me, now barely thirty feet away For the first time I realized fully the desperation of esticulations of the wrathful guard could no longer be ignored, and, sust at my momentary weakness, I nerved myself for the play
”_Caraue ”Stop there, you lazy niggers; don't let that boat drift any closer Come, sheer off, or, by all the saints, I 'll blow a hole clear through the black hide of one of you!”
”Hold her back, boy!” Islave ”That soldier means to shoot”
Then I held up a handful of our choicest fruit into view
”I have got plenty vegetables, an' lot fruit fer sell,” I shouted eagerly in negro French, putting all the voluht penetrate the hidden deck above ”Plenty 'tatoes, peaches, olibs--eberyting fer de oppercers”
”Don't want them--pull away, and be lively about it”
It was a moment of despair, every hope suspended in the balance; hly enraged guard lifted his gun to the shoulder; there was threat in his eyes, yet I ventured a desperate chance of one ot de only _olibs_ on dis ribber”
”_Bastenade_!” yelled the infuriated fellow ”I 'll give you a shot to pay for your insolence”
Even as he spoke, fuun, that sah rail like Punch at a pantoer?” its owner cried doubtingly ”Vas it ze olif you haf zare in ze leetle boat?”
I eagerly held up into view a choice handful of green fruit, my eyes hopeful
”Oui, Senor Oppercer--fresh olibs; saht on the rail by this ti far over, no slight interest depicted upon his pinched, sallow countenance
”It's all right, sentry,” he said sharply to the soldier, who lowered his gun with a scowl indicating his real desire My newly found friend lifted his squeaking voice again in unfa ze side of ze sheep, you black fellar, an'
come up here wiz ze olif fer ze Capitaine”