This exclamation was called forth by the actions of the colonel and his servant, who conferred together for a few minutes, looking at Oscar all the while, and then the man left his position behind his master's chair, and came over to the boy's side of the vessel.
"Colonel Dunhaven presents his compliments, and wants to know if he can have a few words with you," said the lackey.
It was right on the point of Oscar's tongue to say that if the colonel wanted to speak to him he could come where he was, but he didn't say it. He picked up his chair, and moved over to the other side of the deck, where the colonel was sitting.
"Aw!" said the latter as Oscar placed his chair to suit him and seated himself in it, "I think I have seen you before."
(The colonel pronounced the last word as though it were spelled befoah.)
"I was thinking the same in regard to yourself," replied Oscar. "If I am not mistaken, I saw you in America last winter. You were with a party in search of buffaloes."
"Aw, I was there! Beastly country that. The common people have not the remotest idea of the propriety of things. They are altogether too independent!"
"Those plains-guides and hunters are a very independent body of men," answered Oscar; "and when one goes among them he must conform to their customs or suffer for it."
"They're a beastly lot!" said the colonel. "They don't know how to treat a gentleman. My object in asking you over here was to inquire if you secured any game during that trip."