“Yes, it is wonderful,” said the captain. “I suppose the way in which they get over dangerous wounds is more wonderful still. Poor fellow! he must have had a horrible squeeze, and the drowning, no doubt, acted like a shock. I wish, though, you had thought to bring home the old man’s skin.”
“Yes, we ought to have done that,” said Norman, “for Tim’s sake.”
“But we had enough to do to bring home Shanter.”
“Ay, that they had,” cried Uncle Jack. “I don’t know what Sam German would have done without him.”
“Why, he always grumbles at him for a lazy nigger,” said the captain.
“Yes, but he likes him all the same.”
“So we all do,” chorused the boys.
“He can’t help being black,” said Tim.
“No,” said the captain; “but you have said nothing about the camps of black fellows you struck.”
“Because we did not find any, father,” cried Rifle.