“Then what must I do to save him?” asked Harry.
“Noting,” answered the Krooman. “You noting can do. Ony bid him be good man, and talk much, pray to God. Golah wife lub him, and he sure muss die.”
Harry informed the sailor and Terence of what the Krooman had told him; and the three took counsel together.
“I believe as how the darkey be right,” said Bill. “Of course, if the swab Goliarh larns as ’ow one av ’is wives ha’ taken a fancy to Master Colly, ’twill be all up wi’ the poor lad. He will be killed, and mayhap eaten too, for that matter.”
“Like enough,” assented Terence. “And should he scorn her very particular attentions, her resentment might be equally as dangerous as Golah’s. I fear poor Colin has drifted into trouble.”
“What ye be afther sayin’ about the woman,” said Bill, “minds me o’ a little story I wunce heeard whin I was a boy. I read it in a book called the Bible. It was about a young man, somethin’ like Master Colly, barrin’ his name was Joseph. A potter’s wife tuck a fancy to him; but Joseph, bein’ a dacent an’ honest youngster, treated her wid contimpt, an’ came to great grief by doin’ that same. You must ’ave read that story, Master ’Arry,” continued Bill, turning from Terence to the young Englishman, and changing his style of pronunciation. “Did it not ’appen summers in this part o’ the world? Hif I remember rightly, it did. I know ’twas summers in furrin parts.”
“Yes,” answered Harry, “that little affair did happen in this part of the world, since it was in Africa; and our comrade has a fair prospect of being more unfortunate than Joseph. In truth, I don’t see how we shall be able to assist him.”
“There he is, about a hundred cable lengths astern,” said Bill, looking back. “And there’s the old ’oman, too, lookin’ sharp afther him, while Colly is atin’ the figs and drinkin’ the camel’s milk; and while I’m dying for a dhrop of that same. Old Goliarh is no doubt proud wi’ the great care she’s takin’ of his child; but won’t there be a row when he larns summat more? Won’t there, Master ’Arry?”
“There will, indeed,” answered Harry. “Colin will soon be up with us, and we must talk to him.”
Harry was right, for Colin soon after overtook them, having been driven up as usual by the negress, who seemed in great anger at the trouble he was causing her.