“Yes, I suppose so, sir,” said the man, rather sulkily.
“Well, go on. What were you going to say?”
“Only that Mr Dean here slipped down that hole.”
“Well, we know that,” said Dean shortly. “You needn’t bring that up.”
“No,” cried Mark. “Why did you?”
“Didn’t mean any harm, sir. I was only going to say that if you two gents met with an accident like that, mightn’t them two niggers have had one too?”
“Ay, ay, messmate,” growled Dan, “and being blacks not have the pluck and patience of our two young gentlemen here as helped theirselves and got out.”
“Pluck and patience!” thought Mark, as he stole a glance at his cousin.
“Patience and pluck!” said Dean to himself, as he met his cousin’s eye.
“Why, Buck,” cried Mark, “you have regularly spoilt my day.”