“So ho,” said he, “you mean to cheat me do you?” at the same time signifying his intention of having the horse go as fast as he liked.
“The Lord help Fred and Ferd then, for Bill can’t,” was the mental ejaculation of the negro as he saw the fire in his master’s eye and knew he must be obeyed.
Still he managed to be as slow as possible, insisting that “Ferd allus had to drink two buckets and a half, or he wan’t wuth a dime,” adding in a conciliatory tone, that “with two buckets and a half in him he’d run like lightnin’.”
Very impatiently Mr. Delafield waited for the disappearance of the requisite amount of water, consulting his watch, counting the minutes, and at last remarking that it took Ferd a wonderful while to drink.
“That’s ’case he’s sich a ’strordinary beast every way,” answered Bill, who for some little time had been holding an empty bucket to the horse’s mouth.
He was going to replenish a third time when his master ordered him back, telling him he could wait no longer; with another glance at his watch, he entered the carriage, while Bill, loudly lamenting the half bucket, without which Ferd would surely die, mounted the box, where he spent quite a while in comfortably disposing of his long, lank limbs and in adjusting his palmleaf hat.
“Go on, you rascal,” shouted Mr. Delafield, beginning to lose his temper; and gathering up the reins, Bill whistled to the spirited animals, who dashed off at a far greater speed than their driver thought was at all conducive to their well being.
“Hold on dar, Ferd! Stop dat foolin’, will you, Fred! Easy dar, both on you, for you come mighty nigh histin’ me off de box!”
This last was said quite loud for the benefit of Mr. Delafield, who, perceiving that their speed had slackened, for they were well trained and readily obeyed Bill’s voice, called out, “Drive faster, I tell you. Give them the ribbons, and let them run.”
“Lor’ a’mighty,” answered Bill, now coming to a dead halt in order that his master might be better impressed with what he said. “You don’t understand hoss flesh. At this rate you kills ’em in less than no time. Ferd never ‘ill stan’ it with them two buckets of water, ’case you see how shakin’ him up dis way dey’ll get bilin’ hot and nobody can live with bilin’ water in ’em.”