“Boss Val like drink o’ water?” said the black just then.
“Yes—no. Ah, I remember now,” I cried eagerly, for it all came back. “Where have you been all this time?”
The black smiled.
“Um? Been to see Boss and Aunt Jenny.”
“You have?” I cried eagerly. “But stop a moment. You went after that Irish captain?”
The black nodded, and, to my horror, his face contracted and his lips drew away from his white teeth, but not in a grin.
I lay back looking at him wildly, and as I gazed in his eyes the appearance of his countenance made me shudder just then, lit up by the fiery glow of the sunset which flooded the place through the openings above the tilt. It seemed to me horrible, and for a long time I could not speak. At last the words came:
“Did you know that he struck down Mr Denham, and nearly killed us both?”
“Um? Yes. Soldiers tell Joeboy.”
“And you followed him?”