“How would you ever pay me back?”
“By haulin’; dar’s a big speculation in it; make a fortin right off.”
“Where will you get a wagon?”
“Oh, I’ze got a wagin; one ole massa throde away and I mended up. An’ I’ze got ropes and ebery ting ’cept de mule; dat’s all I want now.”
“You think you will pay me back?”
“Sartin, massa. If I don’t pay, I guvs up de mule.”
Again Mr. Foster laughed at the thought of that mule coming back on his hands.
“Well, I think you ought to have the mule now,” was Foster’s generous reply; “and here is twenty dollars to buy one, but you must pay it back,” and he handed him a ten-dollar and two five-dollar bills.
“My Lor, massa! Neber had so much money ’fore in all my life. If I dun fail to pay it back, de mule’s yourn, sure.”
“Now, don’t allow yourself to be robbed or cheated out of it.”