"Hould aisy a bit, for I'd like to hould a private correspondence wid yous. Will ye jist come to the hurricane deck, till I tells yous all about it?"
"Sartain," replied Uncle Nathan, his curiosity fully excited.
As soon as they reached a deserted portion of the promenade deck, Pat, after satisfying himself there were no listeners near, commenced, with an air of grave importance, his story.
"Whisht now, and draw near," said he. "Can yous keep a sacret?"
"Well, I think I could, if it was an honest one."
"Faix, thin, it is an honest one. Sure yous come from the North, and don't belave in keeping the naigers in bondage?"
"To be sure not."
"Well, then, would yous help a naiger out of throuble, if yous could as well as not?"
"I sartainly wish 'em well; but the Scripture says 'Honor the king,' which means nothin' more nor less than 'obey the laws.' Arter all, though, perhaps we ought not to mind wicked laws."
"Musha bad luck to your raysoning! Sure I'm no docthor, to blarney over the matther. Will yous kape the sacret?" asked Pat, a little excited, and somewhat disappointed to find his auditor lukewarm in "the cause."