"You go--find children--lost in bush; you go--join them." And Marian pointed to a little knot of men in the distance.
"Ah!" grunted Old Man Tommy. "Piccaninny lost in bush. Me go find him." And he was walking away, when artful cupidity caused him to turn back.
"You give Old Man Tommy white money, him find piccaninny!"
"Oh, mamma!" exclaimed Marian, "give him some money. He will be sure to track them! Uncle said so."
"I'm sure I shall do nothing of the sort," said Mrs. Nuttall, indignantly. "Give money to a savage, indeed!"
"Me take hat," said Old Man Tommy, looking covetously at Mrs. Nuttall's green silk bonnet. Mrs. Nuttall started back.
"There, mamma!" cried Marian. "If you don't give him money, he will take your new bonnet."
Old Man Tommy's eyes twinkled, for he understood every word that was said. Mrs. Nuttall, to preserve her bonnet, took out her purse, and extracted a shilling.
"There, bad man!" she said, dropping the coin into his skinny palm. "Now, you go."
Old Man Tommy grinned, and with a leap, he raced off at full speed.