“Thank you, thank you!” said Mary. “I felt that I must ask you, for you do not know how we all love him.”
“He is a fortunate fellow,” observed Charley, smiling, “and I daresay he will make friends wherever he goes; at all events, I promise that I will be his friend if he will let me.”
“O yes, I am sure he will; I am so glad that I spoke to you.”
“All right, little lady, set your mind at rest on that score,” said Charley. “Here comes your brother.”
Before Mary could explain that Ned was not her brother, (indeed she so completely looked upon him as a brother that she often forgot that he was not so), he entered the room. Mary’s heart was greatly relieved at the thoughts that Ned had already found a friend among his future messmates.
Chapter Five.
Two days afterwards found the one-legged lieutenant and his young companions on their way to Portsmouth. Ned bore the parting manfully, though he did not the less acutely feel having to wish good-bye to Aunt Sally, Mary, and Tom Baraka.
“If you go to my country, Massa Ned, an’ if you see any ob my people, tell dem where Tom Baraka is,” said the black, as he wrung Ned’s hand. “Dare is one ting I long for—to find my wife and boy, and to tell dem dat I Christian, an’ want dem to be Christian also.”