"Here, you nigger, what'd you do with my onions?"
Ben stood stock-still, he was so astonished.
"Ungyuns!" he exclaimed; "I never seed no ungyuns."
"Yes, you did! You must have: you've stowed 'em away somewhere. Now jest you pass 'em out, or I'll report you."
Ben had never been accused of stealing before. He looked the man full in the face, and said:—
"You can do all the reportin' yer want to, mister. I never seed your ungyuns." And he was about to pass on; but the man was so angry, and so sure that Ben must have taken his onions, that he stood in the middle of the aisle, right in Ben's way, and would not let him pass.
"Hand 'em over now," he said, in the most insulting tone; "hand 'em over."
Mr. March, who had been watching the scene with some amusement, was very much astonished, on looking at Rob at this moment, to see his cheeks flushed, his lips parted as if he were about to speak.
"Why, Rob," he said, "do you know where the onions are?"
"No," said Rob.