He was not higher than four feet, his chest and shoulders were large and swelling, and from his enormously long body descended bandy legs of a little more than one foot in length, while his feet were the finest specimens in the heavy corn-crushed line that could have been met with.
His head was very large, rounded off as smoothly as a cocoanut, and covered with hair that curled so very tightly that he could not shut his mouth.
The last named feature was probably five inches wide, presenting the appearance, when the darkey was on a broad grin, of his head separating into two equal parts, one above and the other below the awful cavity that he displayed.
His teeth were large and as white as snow; his ears were like two small wind-mills attached to his head, while his nose was as broad and flat as a good old-fashioned Connecticut pancake, squatted right down on his face.
This extraordinary creature returned Frank’s glance with an inquiring glance from his little beady eyes, which were as bright and piercing as those of a rattlesnake.
“This,” said Charley Gorse, “is my servant and constant companion, Pomp. He is as faithful as a dog, is one of the biggest cards in the way of a rumpus, and can cut up more didoes than any performer you ever saw in a sawdust ring. He’s one of the most wonderful riders and whistlers in the West; can ride on his head or his ear, charm snakes and call birds with his whistle, throw knives, hit the bull’s eye generally, and always sleeps with one eye open. Pomp, tip these people your hash-grabbers.”
“Yes, Massa Charley,” groaned Pomp, thrusting forth a horny black paw, fully as large as Frank’s foot. “If dey’s your frens, dey’s my frens, and dis nigga’ll fight for ’em till he’s chawed clar to nuffin.”
Frank and Barney shook hands with the grinning darkey, and then the quartette walked away to Charley’s home, Frank first giving the directions for unloading and conveying his boxes.
An hour later the case containing the different sections of the steam horse and the wagon were brought to the house, and they all gathered around to see Frank unpack his new idea.
In a short time the horse was put together and attached to the wagon, and everything belonging to the cargo designed for the body of the vehicle carefully stowed away.