Part 29 (1/2)

”You misunderstand me. Can you keep a secret, Moses?”

”I kin try--if--if he's not too diffikilt to keep.”

”Well, then; listen.”

The negro opened his eyes and his mouth as if these were the chief orifices for the entrance of sound, and advanced an ear. The distant monkey, observing, apparently, that some unusual communication was about to be made, also stretched out its little head, c.o.c.ked an ear, and suspended its other operations.

Then, in low earnest tones, Nigel told Moses of his belief that Van der Kemp's daughter might yet be alive and well, and detailed the recent conversation he had had with his master.

”Now, Moses; what d' ye think of all that?”

Profundity unfathomable sat on the negro's sable brow as he replied, ”Ma.s.sa Nadgel, I don't bery well know _what_ to t'ink.”

”But remember, Moses, before we go further, that I tell you all this in strict confidence; not a word of it must pa.s.s your lips.”

The awful solemnity with which Nigel sought to impress this on his companion was absolutely trifling compared with the expression of that companion's countenance, as, with a long-drawn argumentative and remonstrative _Oh!_ he replied:--”Ma.s.sa--Nadgel. Does you really t'ink I would say or do any mortal t'ing w'atsumiver as would injure _my_ ma.s.sa?”

”I'm _sure_, you would not,” returned Nigel, quickly. ”Forgive me, Moses, I merely meant that you would have to be very cautious--very careful--that you do not let a word slip--by accident, you know. I believe you'd sooner die than do an intentional injury to Van der Kemp.

If I thought you capable of _that_, I think I would relieve my feelings by giving you a good thras.h.i.+ng.”

The listening monkey c.o.c.ked its ear a little higher at this, and Moses, who had at first raised his flat nose indignantly in the air, gradually lowered it, while a benignant smile supplanted indignation.

”You're right dere, Ma.s.sa Nadgel. I'd die a t'ousand times sooner dan injure ma.s.sa. As to your last obserwation, it rouses two idees in my mind. First, I wonder how you'd manidge to gib me a t'ras.h.i.+n', an'

second, I wonder if your own moder would rikognise you arter you'd tried it.”

At this the monkey turned its other ear as if to make quite sure that it heard aright. Nigel laughed shortly.

”But seriously, Moses,” he continued; ”what do you think I should do?

Should I reveal my suspicions to Van der Kemp?”

”Cer'nly not!” answered the negro with prompt decision. ”What! wake up all his old hopes to hab 'em all dashed to bits p'raps when you find dat you's wrong!”

”But I feel absolutely certain that I'm _not_ wrong!” returned Nigel, excitedly. ”Consider--there is, first, the one-eyed pirate; second, there is--”

”'Scuse me, Ma.s.sa Nadgel, dere's no occasion to go all ober it again.

I'll tell you what you do.”

”Well?” exclaimed Nigel, anxiously, while his companion frowned savagely under the force of the thoughts that surged through his brain.

”Here's what you'll do,” said Moses.

”Well?” (impatiently, as the negro paused.)

”We're on our way home to Krakatoa.”

”Yes--well?”

”One ob our men leabes us to-morrer--goes to 'is home on de coast. Kitch one ob de steamers dat's allers due about dis time.”