“I beg pardon, sir, but I could make the slaves understand.”
“You?”
“Yes, sir; I should take Soup and—I mean the two black fellows—and make them interpret.”
“Of course; a capital idea, my lad; but—stop. How are you going to understand the men you would take?”
“Oh, I think I could manage that, sir,” said Bob, importantly.
“Indeed?”
“Yes, sir. I am making a study of their language, and I’ve learned a few words and taught them.”
“Take them with you in the boat, then, sir, by all means;” and Bob darted a triumphant glance at the first lieutenant, in ignorance of the fact that this gentleman was watching him, and met his look in a terribly stony fashion, which made Bob’s face turn blank in the extreme.
To hide his confusion, he ran off forward, and, partly by signs, partly by hauling, he drew the two blacks to the waiting boat, into which they stepped willingly enough, and five minutes later the little party were on their way back to the schooner.