“Yes, massa,” said the black quietly.
“Then you quite understand that you have been helping me as guide so that we can save Mr Allen from this man, and punish him for all the evil he has done—I mean for this buying and selling of the poor blacks who are brought from Africa here?”
“Yes, massa.”
“Then why do you refuse to go on guiding us to find Mr Allen?”
“Massa no understand,” said the black quietly. “Caesar want to save Massa Allen. Caesar want to kill Massa Huggin.”
“Do you?” said the lieutenant, smiling. “Well, we do not ask you to do that. We will manage the punishing; but I want you to go on guiding me and my men to where this slave-dealer is.”
“Yes, massa. Caesar want too, but massa mus’ wait.”
“What for? Why should we wait?”
“Massa no understand.”
“I understand from your behaviour that you are afraid,” said the lieutenant sternly.