Part 108 (2/2)

”Yes, sah; berry poor creature, sah. Caesar berry sorry. Ma.s.sa Allen good ma.s.sa, and Caesar lub um.”

”But where is he now? Not dead?”

”Yes, ma.s.sa been die berry much all um time. Couldn't quite go die till poor Caesar come, and den he shake hand. Say 'Good-bye, Caesar, lad.

Tell Ma.s.sa Murray Frank. Tell um t'ink de bes' ob a poor weak man.'”

”Mr Allen said that, Caesar?” said Murray.

”Yes, sah. Caesar cry bofe eyes. Tullus cry and slabe woman cry when we put um in de groun' fas' asleep. Everybody lub poor Ma.s.sa Allen, sah. Gone dead. Say go to sleep happy now. No more slabe trade now.

No more poor n.i.g.g.ah leap overboard now Ma.s.sa Murray Frank and Bri'sh sailor come.”

”Well, Mr Murray,” said the captain, about an hour later, ”I hope you are ready to return to your duties.”

”Yes, sir, certainly,” said the lad, staring.

”I'm glad of it. And, by the way, this is a very favourable opportunity for saying a few words in season to you. Let me tell you that I am not at all satisfied with the way in which your duties have been carried out, any more, I may say, than I have been with the way in which I have been served by your brother officers. I look for something better in the future, sir, something decidedly better in the future, I may say;”

and he stalked aft and went below.

”Did you hear what Captain Kingsberry said, sir?” said Murray to the chief officer, who just then came limping up with his spy-gla.s.s beneath his feeble arm.

”Yes, Murray, every word. My dear boy, it is a way he has. There, there, my lad, I think amongst us we've given the slave-trade its heaviest blow.”

THE END.

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