Tim paid no attention to the question, repeated several times, nor did he appear to feel the huge black hand laid so tenderly on his head.
“Wha’s de matter, honey? Has Cap’en Pratt been eddercaten’ of yer?” Then, without waiting for a reply, he continued: “Now, don’ take on so, honey. Come inter de kitchen wid ole Mose, an’ let him soothe ye up a little. Come, honey, come wid me, an’ bring de dorg wid yer.”
While he spoke the old colored man was untying the rope which fastened Tip, for he knew the boy would follow wherever the dog was led. And in that he was right, for when Tip went toward the little box Mose called a kitchen he followed almost unconsciously.
Once inside the place where the old negro was chief, Mose took his jacket off, and bathed the ugly-looking black-and-blue marks which had been left by the rope, talking to the boy in his peculiar dialect as he did so, soothing the wounds on his heart as he treated those on his body.
“Now, don’ feel bad, honey; it’s only a way Cap’en Pratt has got, an’ you must git used to it, shuah. Don’t let him fret yer, but keep right on about yer work jest as ef yer didn’t notice him like.”
Mose bathed the wounds, and gave Tip such a feast as he had not had for many a day; and when it was done Tim said to him:
“You’re awful good, you are; but I’m afraid the captain will make you sorry for it. He don’t seem to like me, an’ he may get mad ’cause you’ve helped me.”
“Bress yer, chile, what you s’pose ole Mose keers fur him ef he does git mad? The cap’en kin rave an’ rave, but dis nigger don’ mind him more’n ef he was de souf wind, what carn’t do nobody any harm.”
“But—” Tim began to say, earnestly.
“Never mind ’bout any buts, honey. Yer fixed all right now, an’ you go down in de cabin an’ go ter work like a man; ole Mose’ll keep keer ob de dorg.”