"You got two pistols, sah," Dan said presently. "How you get dem?"
"The lady of that house gave them to me, Dan; they are one for you and one for me."
"Dis chile no want him, sah; not know what to do wid him. Go off and shoot myself, for sure."
"Well, I don't suppose you would do much good with it, Dan. As I am a good shot, perhaps I had better keep them both. You might load them for me as I fire them."
"Berry well, sah; you show me how to load, me load."
Vincent showed Dan how to extricate the discharged cartridge-cases and to put in fresh ones, and after a quarter of an hour's practice Dan was able to do this with some speed.
"When we going on, sah?" he said as, having learned the lesson, he handed the pistol back to Vincent.
"We are not going on until the evening, Dan. When it gets dark the lady is going to take us to a place where there is a boat hidden, and we shall then be able to cross the river."
"Den I will hab a sleep, sah. Noting like sleeping when there is a chance."
"I believe you could sleep three-quarters of your time, Dan. However, you may as well sleep now if you can, for there will be nothing to do till night."