Part 94 (1/2)
”Yes; let me see how bad it is and tie it up.”
”No time. Caesar tie corn-leaf all about and stop bleed. Caesar don't mind. What ma.s.sa sailor officer call himself?”
”Murray--Frank,” was the reply.
”Murray Frank, sah. Murray Frank, sah, come away dreckerly and bring your brudder sailor. Caesar couldn't find young ma.s.sa for big long time. Now come?”
”Come where?” asked Murray quickly.
”Caesar don't know. Want find Ma.s.sa Anderson lieutenant. Want find big Tom May chap. Ma.s.sa know where?”
”No, Caesar. Can't you show me?”
”No, sah! Everybody run all away. Lot people get killed. Caesar glad find Ma.s.sa young sailor 'gain.”
”So am I, my lad. But now can you find Tom May and Bill t.i.tely?”
”Caesar try, sah. Come along.”
”But I can't leave my wounded friend here.”
”No, sah. Take um 'long.”
”That's right; but can you find the way in the darkness?”
”Caesar going try,” said the black confidently; but he did not inspire the mids.h.i.+pman with the same amount of confidence. In fact, the little he felt was a good deal shaken by a great hand darting as it were out of the darkness and seizing him roughly by the shoulder.
”What does that mean?” he cried.
A deep-toned whispering ensued, and it seemed to Murray that the huge black who had so much startled him by his appearance before was eagerly whispering to his recovered friend.
”Big Tullus,” whispered Caesar. ”Say Ma.s.sa Huggin men come along.
Murray Frank come along quick.”
”Yes, but I tell you I cannot leave my brother mids.h.i.+pman,” whispered Murray.
”No, sah,” said the black. ”Big Tullus take um 'long on back.”
”But you must be careful,” whispered Murray. ”He is wounded.”
”Big Tullus fellow take care,” replied the black, and he whispered to his invisible companion, with the result that, in spite of the darkness, Murray made out that poor Roberts, who moaned slightly, was easily lifted up, and the huge black seemed to have no difficulty in throwing the slightly-made wounded lad over his shoulder as if he had been a child.
”Now ma.s.sa, come quick,” whispered the black.
”But will your black friend keep up with us in the dark?”
”Yes, ma.s.sa. Caesar knock um head off if don't. Him Caesar man. Come and tell young ma.s.sa um find young sailor. Now carry other one. Come along quick, 'fore sailor crew find um and catch um. Now Murray Frank hear?”