“I knowed you would! Wasn’t we boys together? Bless your good heart, sir! You’ll never be sorry—never. I’m yours, body an’ soul, for this—yours to be trusted an’ ordered while life’s in me.”
“So be it, Daniel; and, after your own wife, there’s no human being will be better pleased to see you proved guiltless than I shall. And what I can do to help you and justice, that will I do. Now our way is clear and we will waste no time.”
“Ban’t my business to speak any more then,” answered Sweetland. “For the future I’ll keep my mouth shut and obey. But one thing you must do; an’ that is cable home the first moment you get to Barbados. Ford sent his letter by the last station ship, an’ you can’t stop it. Your father will hear that you’ve been eaten by sharks. That’ll be likely to worry him bad. Anyway, you’ll have to telegraph an’ explain that you’re all right an’ on the way to home.”
“There’s another steamer that sails in two days’ time. To-morrow we’ll institute a solemn search for Ford; I’ll appoint his clerk as temporary overseer; and we’ll get back to Barbados and take the first home ship.”
“’Tis just the very thing,” said Dan.
“You must sleep in my cabin, that’s clear.”
“Good Lord, no! Who ever heard of a common nigger in his master’s cabin, sir?”
“It’s unusual, no doubt; but you certainly can’t go with the other servants, or share any other cabin than mine, Dan.”
“Why ever not, Mister Henry?”