“This is nice, Mr Jack; we can’t get up and run away because of the niggers, and we can’t stop here because of the snakes. Yes; what’s to be done?”
Jack was silent in turn for a few moments.
“Let’s crawl a little way off, Ned.”
Jack set the example, and it was very willingly followed, till they were a dozen yards farther from the fire; but before half the distance was covered, the shouting of the blacks was heard again.
“I say, Mr Jack,” whispered Ned, as they subsided, “you’re a very clever fellow over your books.”
“Am I, Ned?” said Jack sadly.
“Oh, yes, I’ve often heard the guv’nor and Doctor Instow say so. Well then, there’s me. I’m sharp enough over my work—sort of handy chap.”
“Yes; but what’s the good of talking about that now?”
“I was only thinking, sir. Here’s you and me making no end of a fuss, and starving, and all the rest of it, and getting into a state o’ melancholy, because we’ve lost our way, while these poor ignorant savages go about without any clothes, and regularly enjoy themselves in the same place.”
“Yes, Ned, they are a deal cleverer than we are after all.”