“You could not escape with me, my boy,” he said. “There, do as I command. I can give you no farther advice, only use your own judgment as to where you will go.”
“But, father—”
“Silence! Is Hannibal there?” he said, raising his voice.
“Yes, massa.”
“Here, my man,” continued my father, as the great black came to him. “You will try and serve me, will you not?”
“Massa want Han do somefin?”
“Yes. There is great danger from the Indians. I want you to stay with and help my son; when the time comes, you will swim with him to a boat, and try and get away.”
“And carry massa down to the boat?”
“No. Save my son. Now go with him at once.” His words were so imperative that we both left him, and I went back toward where the fighting was going on, with Han following me like a great black shadow, till, all at once, he touched me on the arm.
“Yes,” I said.