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Then he looked at his painting and frowned, as if considering the best spot in which to place this "figure." Then he began to work. Meanwhile the Moor sat down to smoke in such a position that he could see both painter and sitter. It was a severe test of our middy's capacity to act the "hyperkrite!" His heart was thumping at his ribs like a sledge-hammer anxious to get out.
He was going to have said "as everybody is," but, with much sagacity, he stopped short and sneezed instead. He felt that a commonplace cough from a man with a sound chest would inevitably have betrayed him so he sneezed. "A hyperkrite as usual!" he thought, and continued aloud "So, you see, Hester, it is very important that you should undertake it, and it will be very kind of you, too."
Awakened from refreshing sleep at the sound of his name, Spinkie emerged suddenly from the stern-manhole, right under the negro's nose, and with a sleepy "Oo, oo!" gazed up into his face. "Ho! Dare you is, you mis'rible hyperkrite!" exclaimed Moses, kissing the animal in the depth of his satisfaction. "He's here, massa, all right. Now, you go to bed agin, you small bundle ob hair."
W'en we's in public I calls you `sar' an' speak gruff an' shove you into black holes." "And why do you act so, Peter?" "'Cause, don't you see, I's a hyperkrite. I tole you dat before." "Well, I can guess what you mean. You don't want to appear too friendly? Just so.
"Comin', captain, comin'," cried the negro, in his own peculiar English which was, indeed, his mother tongue, for he had been born in the United States of America. Up wid you!" Peter emphasised his orders with a real kick, which expedited his prisoner's ascent, and, at the same time, justified the negro's claim to be a thorough-paced "hyperkrite!"
"We's a-goin' to fight!" groaned the negro. "Oh! I's a awrful hyperkrite! You stop where you am, massa, else you'll get whacked." Despite the risk of being "whacked," the youth would have followed the negro on deck, had not the hatch been slammed in his face and secured. Next moment he heard a volley of musketry on deck.
I's wuss nor dat: I's a awrful hyperkrite! an' I wants to give you good adwice. Wotiver you doos, don't resist. You'll on'y git whacked if you do." "Thank you, Sambo. But what if I do resist in spite of being whacked?" "Den you bery soon change your mind, das all. Moreober, my name's not Sambo. It am Peter de Great."
Well was it then for our middy that it flashed into his mind that Peter the Great, being the most astounding "hyperkrite" on earth, was at work in his deceptive way, else would he have certainly retaliated and brought on himself swift punishment for slaves were not permitted to resent injuries or create riots. As it was, he cast down his eyes, flushed scarlet, and restrained himself.
This seemed to clinch the matter, for the Moor purchased the objectionable slave, ordered Peter the Great to bring him along, and left the market-place. "Didn't I tell you I's de greatest hyperkrite as ever was born?" said Peter, in a low voice, when sufficiently far in rear to prevent being overheard by his master.
Geo'ge, Geo'ge," continued Peter, as he dragged the middy along, shaking him from time to time, "you'll be de deaf ob me, an' ob yourself too, if you don't larn to submit. An' see, too, what a hyperkrite you make me! I's 'bliged to kick hard, or dey wouldn't b'lieve me in arnist."
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