Here a general consultation was held, by which it appeared that such a port had never been heard of in the West Indies.
“Gustave Adolphe, demandez-lui si c’est un port Anglois.”
“I say—Bo—tom—English port?”
“No,” replied Newton, amused with the mistake; “I should rather call it neutral.”
“C’est un port neutral, monsieur.”
“Gustave Adolphe, demandez-lui de quelle île.”
“I say, what isle—Bo—tom?”
Newton, who was faint with hunger and thirst, was not inclined at the moment to continue the conversation, which otherwise would have been a source of amusement. He replied by making signs that he wished to eat and drink.
“Monsieur,” said Gustave Adolphe to the old negro, “le prisonnier refuse de faire réponse, et demande à manger et à boire.”
“Va l’en chercher, Gustave Adolphe,” replied the old man. “Allons, messieurs,” continued he, addressing the other negroes. “Il faut lever l’ancre de suite, et amener notre prisonnier aux autorités; Charles Philippe, va chercher mon porte-voix.”