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"Who's gwine to be de cook, Dan?" "Do you know how to cook, Cyd?" "Hossifus! I don't know nossin at all 'bout it." "Neither do I; and I think Lily does not. I will try my hand at the business first. We can make some coffee, boil the potatoes, and fry the bacon. I am sure I can do that." "So kin Cyd." "Just as soon as we get to the place where we are going, we will divide the work between us.
By this time Dandy had cast loose the sails, and together they manned the halyards, and hoisted the mainsail. It was large, and the fresh breeze caused it to flap and beat with a fearful noise, which added not a little to the excitement of the skipper. "Stand by the moorings, Cyd, and have your jib halyards ready!" said Dandy, as he took his place at the tiller. "Hossifus! I'm dar, Massa Dandy."
"Hossifus!" exclaimed Cyd, aghast at the thought. "Wha wha wha " "Take the helm!" repeated the resolute skipper, with a decision which left no alternative for the boy. "Possifus! Dis chile don't want to set dar, and be shooted." "There is no more danger there than there is any where else. Take your place, and don't be a coward. If you want to be free, you must fight for it now." "Golly!
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.
"Heave to, and let us see you a minute." "What for?" "Want to talk with you." "Can't stop." "Guess ye kin. Heven't ye seen nary nigger?" "No." "Well, stop won't ye?" "Can't stop; must get home by sunrise." "Well, ye must stop!" yelled the speaker, angrily, and with an oath. "Hossifus!" groaned Cyd, in mortal terror. "Shut up, Cyd," added Dan, sternly.
"I would, or any other man. I belong to myself now, and I will fight for my own freedom to the last." "I dunno 'bout dat, Dan," mused Cyd. "Hossifus! Shoot Massa Kun'l! Dunno 'bout dat." "Turn in, Cyd, and go to sleep. You may have the first chance." The two boys drew lots for the choice of berths, and Dan obtained the after one.
"I knows all about it now, Dandy." "I don't want to be called Dandy any more. My name is Daniel, but you may call me Dan for short." "Possifus! Den's what's my name? I'se free too, and I wan't my name changed." "Your name is Thucydides." "Tucydimes!" "No, Thucydides," laughed Dan for we will adopt his suggestion, and call him no longer by his plantation name. "Hossifus!
"What do you think, Cyd?" "Hossifus! Cyd tinks he's sleepy," yawned he, opening his mouth in a fearful gape. "I's stand up to dat, for shore." "Very well; but one of us shall stand watch while the others sleep. Which shall it be?" "I'll be de fus. I done sleep some last night," said Quin. "You didn't shet your eyes once." "Whose turn next?" "Cyd's, for sartin. You'm did a big ting last night, Dan.
"I intend to keep a watch night and day while we stay in this place, if it should be for a year." "Hossifus! What's de use of keepin de watch?" yawned Cyd, as he stretched himself, and opened his mouth wide enough to take in a small alligator. "Suppose half a dozen slave-hunters should come up here while we are all asleep!" replied Dan, sharply. "'Pose dey come when we're all awake what den?"
"Hossifus!" ejaculated Cyd, whose vocabulary being rather limited, he was under the necessity of coining a word occasionally, when he felt the need of a strong expression. "Dis nigger tink he was free, but it's Do dis, and Do dat. Hossifus; dis chile tink he's only got a new massa dat's all, for sartin." "If you don't want to go, Cyd, you needn't. I will put you on shore, and go without you."
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