Part 43 (2/2)
”Whose lugger is that?”
”Ma.s.sa's, sah.”
”Oh!” cried Murray; and then obeying a sudden thought, ”Where is the schooner?”
”Gone sail round um ilum, sah.”
”With slaves?” said Murray.
”Gone take big lot black fellow, sah.”
”What for?”
”Hoe de cotton, sah; plant de sugar, sah,” said the black, showing his white teeth.
”When will the schooner come back, Sambo?” said Murray.
”Name not Sambo, sah,” said the black.
”What is it then?”
”Jupe, sah, Jupiter.”
”Ask him where his master lives.”
”Yes, sir!--Where does your master live?”
The black rested the heavy hoe he carried among the thick growth of the trees which rang alongside of the stream, and pointed away into the dense cover at the back.
”Jupe show ma.s.sa.”
”Is your master away with the schooner?” asked Murray.
”No, sah. Ma.s.sa never go to sea. Cap' Huggum go in um schooner.”
”Oh, that's it, is it?” said Mr Anderson. ”Now then, my lad; if we land you will show us the way to your master's place?”
”Yes, sah. Ma.s.sa Huggum's 'long with ma.s.sa now.”
”Who is Master Huggums?” said the lieutenant.
”Ma.s.sa, sah. Make um n.i.g.g.ah work, sah;” and as he spoke the black showed his teeth, raised his hoe, and brought the handle sharply against the trunk of some kind of palm-tree. ”That's de way make um work. Lazy rascal go to sleep. Ma.s.sa Huggum wake um up.”
”Oh, that's it, is it? Does he wake you up like that?”
The black burst into a hoa.r.s.e laugh.
”Iyah, iyah, iyah!” he cackled out, and evidently thoroughly enjoying the questioning, he threw himself down in the thick cane growth, rolled over and over, and then sprang up again. ”No give Jupe de whip, ma.s.sa.
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