“Let him go,” answered Jack. “We can do the work between us. We’ve done such work before.”
“I don’t like it up here nohow,” said the colored man. “They’s too much to do with so many young fellows around. I’d rather go back.”
“Then you go,” answered Gif. “But remember, I’m going to write to my father and let him know just how lazy and worthless you’ve been here; and I’ll get the other boys to write too, so he’ll know the truth of the matter.”
“When do you want me to go back?” questioned the colored man, after a pause. He was now just a little bit scared.
“You can go back to-night if you want to, or otherwise to-morrow. But if you stay here to-night you clean up this muss and clean those frying pans. And you get busy and cook us something worth eating, and be quick about it,” returned Gif.
To this the colored man did not reply, but, taking up the frying pans, he disappeared into the kitchen. Presently the boys heard him clattering around among the kettles and pans and knew he was doing what he could to prepare another meal for them.
It took Jeff the best part of an hour to prepare another meal, and even then it was not as good as the boys would have wished. The colored fellow was very sullen, and they could see that he was on the point of breaking out. Gif, however, gave him no chance, and suggested that he take the morning train at Rocky Run for home.
“How is I goin’ to get to Rocky Run with my baggage?” asked Jeff.
“I’ll row you over directly after breakfast,” answered Gif.
“I’ll go with you, Gif,” said Jack.