"
"Well, but, Peter, speak out; when are we to make the attempt? where are
the rest of your crew?"
"Oh dear! oh dear! dat is de worstest; oh dear!" and he began to cry and
sob like the veriest child. "Oh, massa,"--after he had somewhat
recovered himself;--"Oh, massa, dese people debits. Why, de make all de
oder on board walk de plank, wid two ten pound shot, one at each foot.
Oh, if you had seen de clear shining blue skin, as de became leetle and
leetle, and more leetler, down far in de clear green sea! Oh dear! oh
dear! Only to tink dat each wavering black spot was fellow--creature
like one--shef, wid de heart's blood warm in his bosom at de very
instant of time we lost sight of him for ever!"
"God bless me," said I; "and how did you escape, and the black dog, and
the black--ahem--beg pardon--your wife I mean; how were you spared?"
"Ah, massa! I can't say; but bad as de were, de seemed to have a liking
for brute beasts, so dem save Sneezer, and my wife, and myshef; we were
de only quadrupeds saved out of de whole crew Oh dear! Oh dear!"
"Well, well; I know enough now. I will spare you the pain of any farther
recital, Peter; so tell me what I am to do."
"Stop, massa, till I see if de sentry be still sound. I know de fellow,
he was one on dem; let me see"--and I heard him through the loose
flooring boards walk to the foot of the trap ladder leading up to my
berth. The soliloquy that followed was very curious of its kind.
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