“None your business,” replied Dick, as he slammed the door behind him and returned to the kitchen.
“You free niggers will waste everything dar is on dis boat,” continued Cato. “It’s my duty to watch dees niggers an’ see dat dey don’t destroy marser’s property. Now, let me see, I’ll go right off an’ tell marser ’bout Charley, I won’t keep his secrets any longer.” And here Cato threw aside his dish towel and started for the cabin.
Captain Price, who, during Cato’s soliloquy, was hid behind a large box of goods, returned in haste to his room, where he was soon joined by his dutiful servant.
In answer to the rap on the door, the Captain said “Come in.”
Cato, with downcast look, and in an obsequious manner, entered the room, and said, “Marser, I is come to tell you somethin’ dat hangs heavy on my mine, somethin’ dat I had ought to tole you afore dis.”
“Well,” said the master, “what is it, Cato?”
“Now, marser, you hires Charley, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Well, den, ser, ef Charley runs away you’ll have to pay fer him, won’t you?”
“I think it very probable, as I brought him into a free State, and thereby giving him an opportunity to escape. Why, is he thinking of running away?”