I's 'fraid ob him--he! he! 'fraid ob hurtin' his feelin's!" "Well, never mind; I'll find it out from himself soon.

By the way, what were you telling me about explosions yesterday when that little white gull came to admire your pretty face, and took off our attention ?" "Well, I dun know.

Not got much to tell, only dar's bin rumblin' an' grumblin's an' heavin's lately in de mountains as didn't use to be, an' cracks like somet'in' bustin' down blow, an' massa he shook 'is head two or free times an' look solemn.

He don't often do dat--shook 'is head, I mean--for he mostly always looks solemn." A few minutes later the boat, running through a narrow opening among the rocks into a small circular harbour not more than fifty yards in diameter, rested its keel gently on a little bed of pure yellow sand.
The shore there was so densely covered with bushes that the harbour might easily have been passed without being observed.
Jumping ashore, Moses made the painter fast to a tree.
"What a quiet, cosy place!" said Nigel, as he sprang on the beach and looked admiringly round.
"Yes, an' not easy to find if you don't knows 'im.

We will leabe de boat here,--no danger ob bein' tooked away--an' den go up to de cave." "Is it far ?" asked Nigel.
"A good bit--near de top ob de mountain,"-- answered the negro, who looked at his companion somewhat uneasily.
"Why, what's the matter, Moses ?" "Nuffin'-- oh! nuffin'-- but--but when massa axes you who you is, an' what you bin up to, an' whar your a-gwine to, an' what wages you want, jist you answer 'im in a sorter permiscuous way, an' don't be too partikler." "Wages! man, what d' ye mean ?" "Well, you'll 'scuse me, sar," returned the negro with an air of profound humility, "but my massa lost a old sarvint--a nigger like myself--only last munt', an' he wants to go on one ob his usual expeditions jus' now, so he sends me to Batavia to git anoder man--'a good one, you know,' says massa,--an' as you, sar, was good 'nuff to ax me what you should do, an' you looked a pritty smart man, I----" "You scoundrel!" cried Nigel, interrupting him, "do you really mean to tell me that you've brought me here as a hired servant ?" "Well, not zackly," returned Moses, with solemn simplicity, "you needn't ax no wages unless you like." "But what if I don't want to take service ?" demanded our hero, with a savage frown.
"You kin go home agin," answered Moses, humbly.
Nigel could contain himself no longer.