"Tell de trut', I don't like dat dancing on de supper-table, Felix. 'T is superfluous. De floor is good enough. An' you know, w'en a lady is dancing on a table, after a good supper, of co'se every glass is a temptation to her slipper. An' slippers an' wine-glasses—well, to say de least, de combination it is disastrous.
"So, I say, de floor it is good enough for me. It seem more comme il faut.
"Mais come along. We will be late."
PART SECOND
I
"Sing, nigger, sing! Sing yo' rhyme!
De waters is a-floodin'—dey 's a-roarin' on time!
Climb, squirrel, climb!"
For several miles, when the night was still or the wind favorable, one could follow the song, accented by simultaneous blows of implements of defense marking the measure.
"Sing, nigger, sing! Sing an' pray!
Ol' Death is on de water—he's a-ridin' dis way!
Pray, nigger, pray!"