“Waal, luck, er fate, er providence, er whatever yer like ter call it, hez certainly turned ther tables on yer in a most re-markable way,” he went on, in a musing tone. “An’ I ain’t one ter fly no ways in ther face uv providence. Here you are, and here you’ll stay. I’ve got work fer you an’ ther rest, too, whar we air a-goin’.”
“And where is that, may I ask?” inquired Mr. Chillingworth.
Lake grinned.
“Why, to er delightful island thet we ought ter be raisin’ at any moment now.”
But if they hoped to hear any more about their destination just then, they were disappointed, for Lake went on without any further reference to it.
“This gent here is a perfesser, I understan’,” he said. “Waal, maybe I’ll hev a job fer him, too. Do you understand assaying, perfesser?”
“The science of gauging the value of the metals contained in any ore-bearing rock, do you mean?” asked the scientist.
“Waal, that’s a heap o’ fancy sail ter carry onter it, but ter come down ter brass tacks, by Chowder, that’s jes’ the idee I want ter convey. Do you understand it?”
“Why, to some extent—yes. Have you any ore you wish assayed?”
“I’ll tell yer abaout thet later,” said Lake, with a cunning leer. “Now, then,” he resumed, “what is them two black fellers you’ve got thar—Kanakas, ain’t they?”