“Sure I am,” answered Andy perversely. “Why not? I’m thinkin’ of goin’ right over there.”
There was no outward change in the black man’s bearing, but the boy could see that some emotion was affecting him within. They had reached Goat Creek, and, as the little boat passed into the currentless channel, Ba ceased rowing.
“Marse Andy,” he began in a husky voice, “Ah done bin on dat Timbado—white men don’ go dar.”
“I’m thinkin’ of goin’,” exclaimed Andy, hoping to draw out the colored man.
Ba looked at him long and intently.
“Yo’ ain’t know de big white man in Andros—Cap’n Bassett?”
Andy knew that Andros was one of the Bahama “out islands” and that more than one white man lived there, plantation owners.
“An Englishman?” asked the boy.
“Cap’n Bassett done took me on de boat when Ah bruk out de jail in Nassau.”