The officer smiled.
“Well, who do you belong to?”
“I belongs to Marse Frank Reade, Jr.,” replied Pomp, with emphasis. “I’se a free nigger, but I goes wherebber Marse Frank goes jest de same.”
“Oh, I see,” replied the officer; “well, where is your master just now?”
“Golly, for goodness!” cried Pomp, excitedly. “He am in a heap ob trubble, an’ yo’ kin help him out of it.”
With this Pomp told Clark all about the Steam Man and their mission in the West.
The young colonel listened with deep interest, and then when apprised of the fact that the Steam Man and its passengers were in the hands of Cliff, he cried, excitedly:
“By Jupiter! that man Cliff is just the chap I am after. Word was brought to the fort some time ago of a den of thieves up here with a rendezvous called Ranch V. Do you know of it?”
“Golly sakes, Marse colonel,” cried Pomp, excitedly, “yo’ kin jest bet I does! Jes’ yo’ find de cowboys and rescue Marse Frank and he done show yo’ where de Ranch V. are.”
“It shall be done if we are able,” said Colonel Clark.