Then six more rose and went slowly out of sight among the trees, and I felt that these must be going to form outposts to guard the little camp from attack.
“Now, Mass’ George,” whispered Pomp—“ah, look dah.”
I was already looking, and saw that about a dozen more left the fireside to go out in different directions, their tall dark figures passing out of sight among the trees.
“What are you going to do with the knife?” I whispered softly.
“’Top; you see,” said the boy.
“But how did you get it?”
“You see dat Injum come feel de rope. He ’tuck Pomp head down under um arm while he tie de knot hurt um, so Pomp mean to bite um; but Pomp see de handle ob de knife ’tick up close to um mouf, and um take hold wid um teef, pull um out, and let um fall and put um foot ober um.”
“Oh, Pomp!” I said.
“Den he gone, Pomp push um out ob sight and put um foot ober um again, and now I juss pick um up wid Pomp toe.”
I heard a faint rustle, and then he whispered after a faint grunting sound—