“I’ve never met any white person who knew that,” he said at once. “What is it you know?”
The remark had escaped Andy unwittingly. He was embarrassed.
“I—I didn’t mean to speak yet,” he began.
“Why not?” retorted his companion. “What do you know?”
“I’m awfully sorry I said that, Captain Bassett,” went on the boy slowly. “But I’ll tell you after you tell me the real story.”
“Isn’t yours a real story?” laughed the Englishman.
“I’m sure it isn’t,” answered Andy impulsively. “At least, I don’t want to talk of it now.”
“It must be uncomplimentary to someone,” suggested his friend.
The boy, still much confused, blurted out: