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I cried, turning to him; "you there?" "Iss, Mass' George. When we go home again? Pomp done like dis place 'tall." "No, nor nobody else, boy," said Morgan, sadly. "Hark! Hear anything?" He seized his gun as he spoke, but it was only a hissing scream made by one of the water-soaked timbers as the steam was forced out. "Nobody come. Injum all gone away." "How do you know?" I cried, eagerly.
It was great big terrapum." "I mean you put your oar in too deep." "Den what for say catch um crab? Mass' George say Injum in de bush shootin' at Pomp, and den he look round an' no Injum dah; Mass' George play trick to fright um, and den call poor Pomp 'tupid lil nigger." "Will you hold your tongue and row?" I whispered fiercely. "Pomp can't hold um tongue and pull de oar bofe togedder." "Hush!"
"You see dreckerly. You know what dat Injum look about for?" "No." "Lose um knife." "Well?" "Pomp got um." "You have? Where?" "Down dah," he said, making a sign with one foot toward the loose moss and leaves he had picked. "Why, Pomp," I whispered, joyfully, "how did you manage that?" "Ciss! Coming."
I said to my companion, who was looking disturbed and sulky. "Why come back?" he said. "Why not go shoot all um Injum, and " Pomp stopped short and gave a loud sniff. He had smelt food, and nothing else had the smallest interest for him now till his wants had been supplied. A busy day was spent in perfecting our means of defence against the enemy we dreaded now the most.
But Pomp worked hard, and evidently believing that the danger was entirely past, his spirits rose again and he began to laugh. "Poor ole Injum," he said; "I berry sorry for um. Poor ole Injum lose um knife. Pomp wonner what um say. How soon we get home now, Mass' George?"
I followed him though, just making him out by his light, white cotton clothes, and saw him at last throw himself down on his face; but he started up into a crouching position, ready to bound away as I came up to him. "No good, Mass' George," he said, angrily. "I 'tupid lil nigger, and done know nuff talk. Nebber see no Injum; nebber see nobody.
"No, Pomp," I said, "it's the Indians, and they are silent because they are getting near the house now." "So Pomp get near de house, and don't care for de Injum. He so dreffle hungry."
"Pomp did, but eye got blunt now. Why not go look for Injum?" "I wish the General would let the boy go," whispered Morgan. "He might be able to get in some news." "Pomp nebber see noting here. May Pomp go, Mass' George?" "Of course you can't, boy," said Morgan, shortly. "Go and ask the commanding officer, and see what he'd say to you."
"What are you going to do with the knife?" I whispered softly. "'Top; you see," said the boy. "But how did you get it?" "You see dat Injum come feel de rope. He 'tuck Pomp head down under um arm while he tie de knot hurt um, so Pomp mean to bite um; but Pomp see de handle ob de knife 'tick up close to um mouf, and um take hold wid um teef, pull um out, and let um fall and put um foot ober um."
"Mass' George not seem very better." "But I am. I'll get up directly. But tell me, Pomp, how was it all?" "How was?" "Yes; how did it happen?" "Done know, Mass' George. 'Pose Injum come over big fence and jump on and knock poor lil nigger and Mass' George down.
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