“Snakes and alligators!” exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly “as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs,” as Mr McCarthy said. “If I wurn’t clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat’ral, like the red rain I’ve heerd folks tell o’ seeing in some parts of the world! I guess you was startled, too, mister, and kinder frit!”
“I confess I was, at first,” replied Mr Meldrum, “till I felt the earthquake. Then I recollected about the volcano.”
“Oh! the one down south, that we seed to leeward when the old ship poked her nose on the reef?”
“The same,” said the other. “It was smoking then; and we’ve just had the eruption. It is pretty nearly over, I think, however, for the ashes are not falling quite so thickly now.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” said Mr Lathrope. “Gin it didn’t stop soon, we’d all be transmogrified inter blacker niggers than the cook haar!”
“I ain’t no nigger, massa!” interposed Snowball, feeling his dignity insulted by the remark.
“My crickey!” ejaculated the American, emitting a shrill whistle of astonishment at the naïve assertion. “Then what, in the name of George Washington and Abe Lincoln rolled into one, air you, sir-ree!”
“I’se a ’spectable collud genlemun,” replied the darkey pompously.
“I guess you’ll do,” said Mr Lathrope laughing. “Jest hear that, now! Waal, never mind, my Ethiopian serenader,” he added good-humouredly. “You’re none the worse fur your colour, as fur as I ken see; and I will say this fur you, that you’re the slickest and smartest ship’s cook I ever came across from Maine to Californy; and that’s saying something!”
“Tank you, massa,” replied Snowball, much flattered by the compliment. “I make you one good rabbit-pie next time I’se get rabbits.”