“’Cause, sah, I let fall de packet of lucifire match. One box catchee fi’. Den I jump on de packet to stamp he out, and all de rest go puff. You bery angry, sah?”
“No, my friend; it can’t be helped. Cheer up. I say, Brandy?”
“Yes, sah.”
“Isn’t it fun being a Crusoe? I used to be the Hermit Hunter of the Wilds; now I’ve turned a Crusoe, and you’re my man Friday.”
“Befo’ de Lawd, sah,” said Ginger Brandy looking tremendously serious all at once, “I tink de sun or de soup hab affect you’ head!”
Tom laughed.
“Don’t you know what a Crusoe is?”
“Sumfin’ to eat, plaps?”
“No, Brandy; it’s nothing to eat or drink either. Come, I’ll tell you the story.”
And as far as he could remember it, Tom told Ginger Brandy all the romance of Juan Fernandez, much to his delight.