" He cowered at my feet, and was still as a lamb
from that moment. I stepped to the window. "Now, who are you, and what
do you want?" said I.
"Ah, massa, you no know me?"
"How the devil should I? Don't you see it is as dark as pitch?"
"Well, massa, I will tell you; it is me, massa."
"I make no great doubt of that; but who may you be?"
"Lord, you are de foolis person now; make me talk to him," said the
female. "Massa, never mind he, dat stupid fellow is my husband, and
surely massa know me?"
"Now, my very worthy friends, I think you want to make yourselves known
to me; and if so, pray have the goodness to tell me your names, that is,
if I can in any way serve you."
"To be sure you can, massa; for dat purpose I come here."
The woman hooked the word out of his mouth. "Yes, massa, you must know
me is Nancy, and dat old stupid is my husband Peter Mangrove, him who"
here Peter chimed in--"Yes, massa, Peter Mangrove is de person you have
de honour to address, and"--here he lowered his voice still more,
although the whole dialogue from the commencement had been conducted in
no higher tone than a loud whisper--"we have secured one big large
canoe, near de mout of dis dam hole, which, wid your help, I tink we
shall be able to launch troo de surf; and once in smoot water, den no
fear but we shall run down de coast safely before de wind till we reach.
St Jago."
My heart jumped against my ribs. Here's an unexpected chance, thought
I.
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