“But I have always been sort o’ interested in aeroplanes—at long range. Bring me the book about ’em and I’ll read up a little,” added the captain, locking the doors.
“Then you’ll think about it?” persisted the boy.
“Certainly,” was the captain’s answer, “I’ll think about it. But that isn’t promisin’.”
As Captain Anderson and Andy walked to the pier to get the trundle-cart to carry the trunks down to the landing, the boy was surprised to see a colored man sitting on the edge of the runway.
“Hello, Ba,” exclaimed the captain. “You’re just in time, if you’re lookin’ for a job to-day.”
“Yaas, sah, Ise yo’ honey,” replied the negro. “Loafin’ don’t git yo’ nothin’ but conch meat.”
Andy saw that the man had none of the flashiness of most colored men. His cheek bones were high, his skin was dusty black, his tremendously muscled and unusually long arms were in a marked contrast with his short bowed legs, and he wore neither hat nor shoes.
“Go up to the house and get two trunks. Then you can row us to Goat Creek.”
The man was off instantly.
“Ba?” said Andy. “That’s a peculiar name!”