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"Came up with a party." "Seen ary runaway nigger in the water?" "No," shouted Dan, promptly. The question filled him with hope, for it assured him the slave-hunters had not been near enough even to hear the report of the fowling-pieces when he fired them; or, at least, not near enough to discover who had fired them. "Didn't ye see him?" asked the pursuers again. "No." "Gossifus!
"Possifus!" exclaimed Cyd, when the table was ready, as he sat down upon the berth to observe the effect. "Dat's bery fine! Cyd, you'se gwine to set down to dat table. You'se a free nigger, now, Cyd, and jes as good as de best ob dem. Dar's de bread, dar's de pickles, dar's de butter, dar's de sugar, dar's de milk, dar's de salt, dar's de castor. Gossifus!
"Yes, you have; you have been asleep all the afternoon. You deserve to be a slave all the rest of your life!" added Dan, indignantly. "Gossifus! I tink not. Wha wha wha what does you mean by dat?" stuttered Cyd. "How dared you go to sleep when you were on watch?" "I tell you, Dan, I'se been wide awake all de arternoon. Hadn't been asleep quite two minutes."
Hossifus! Gossifus! De breeze am coming!" shouted Cyd, as he danced round the deck like a madman. "Needn't pray no more, Missy Lily. De breeze am come." "Then I will thank God for sending it," replied the poor girl, a smile of joy playing radiantly upon her fair face.
"The guns!" said Dan, fiercely, as he stamped his foot upon the flooring to emphasize his meaning. "Gossifus! I done think " But Cyd disappeared in the cabin without giving those on deck the benefit of his thoughts. "Now, Lily, you must go into your cabin. Lie down in your berth, for they may fire upon us," said Dan.
"I am willing to tell you what I did these things for, now that I have time to do so. But, Cyd, I will change places with you." "Possifus! What fur?" "You shall command the boat, and I will obey all your orders without asking a single question." "What, Cyd?" "Yes, Cyd," replied Dandy, earnestly. "Here, take the helm!" "Gossifus! I dunno whar you're gwine."
"You'se tell me do dis, and, Cyd, do dat, jes as dough dis nigger no account at all." "I am in command of the boat; and it was my duty to get her under way. When I told you to do any thing, you began to ask questions." "Dis nigger's free now," replied Cyd, with becoming dignity. "Not yet, Cyd. We may be caught at any moment." "Gossifus! I tought I was free now." "What made you think so?"
"Gossifus!" shouted Cyd, who still retained his position at the helm, though his interest in the scene of the forward deck caused him to steer very badly. "Hossifus!" added he, in gasping tones; "de dogs! de dogs!" "What's the matter, Cyd?" demanded Dan. "De dogs! Dey done eat dis chile all up! Dey won't leabe de ghost ob a grease-spot luff of dis nigger!" cried Cyd, in mortal terror.
He will go down to the pier, and expect to find us all there." "Gossifus! we shan't be dar!" exclaimed Cyd, whose imagination was lively enough to enable him to picture the scene that would ensue. "What then, Cyd?" "Golly! Massa Kun'l up and rave like he neber did afore," replied Cyd, who appeared to enjoy the idea. "Well, what then?" "Dunno. He can't help hisself," chuckled Cyd.
I had rather die here like a man than to be scourged to death at the Dead Oak." "Can't we get away? Is there no chance to escape?" asked Lily, whose beating heart was full of mortal terrors. "Gossifus! Wha wha what's de reason we can't take de bateau and row ober to de shore, and take to de woods?" suggested Cyd. "Well, what then?" demanded Dan, calmly. "Why, den run like a possum up a gum tree."
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