"Oh! He's sorry for himself, perhaps; wants me to forgive him."
"Dat's him, sah. Just a silly chap. No savvy good things like me; no savvy sah knock him down."
Challis could not help smiling at John's notion of "good things." He reflected. It was said that negroes respected nothing but force; that they took forgiveness as a sign of weakness. Would it be wise to pardon this Umgabaloo, who seemed popular with his friends?
"I'll risk it," he thought. "Bring Umgabaloo to me," he said.
John fetched the negro, marched him up, and stood him before Challis, keeping his hand on the man's neck. Umgabaloo looked very crestfallen.
"Tell him that he's no good to me unless he can do what he is told," said Challis.
John translated this with forcible additions.
"Tell him I'll let him off this time if he'll promise to obey," Challis went on.
When John made this announcement, Umgabaloo's friends shouted, and the man himself tried to move forward, but was brought up by John's determined grip.
"Does he promise?" asked Challis.