"Jinks, my boy," he said, laughing, "we must defer your explanation; come and go down. The Governor has sent me a note, and Tom is waiting. Let us descend."
Mr. Jinks acquiesced.
They accordingly went down stairs, and issued forth.
At the door of the tavern was standing a negro, who, at sight of Ralph, respectfully removed his cap with one hand, while the other arm leaned on the neck of a donkey about three feet high, which had borne the stalwart fellow, as such animals only can.
The negro gave Mr. Ralph a message, in addition to the letter, of no consequence to our history, and received one in return.
He then bowed again, and was going to mount and ride away, when Ralph said, "Stop, Tom!"
Tom accordingly stopped.
CHAPTER LIV.
EXPLOITS OF FODDER.
Ralph looked from the donkey to Mr. Jinks, and from Mr. Jinks to the donkey; then he laughed.