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"Now, Moses; what d' ye think of all that?" Profundity unfathomable sat on the negro's sable brow as he replied, "Massa Nadgel, I don't bery well know what to t'ink." "But remember, Moses, before we go further, that I tell you all this in strict confidence; not a word of it must pass your lips."
"I sees no `ob course' about it, Massa Nadgel," observed Moses, who never refrained from offering his opinion from motives of humility, or of respect for his employer. "My 'dvice is to go on an' let de purfesser foller." "But I promised to wait for him," said the hermit, with one of his kindly, half-humorous glances, "and you know I never break my promises."
I say, Massa Nadgel, seems to me dat dere's not much left ob Krakatoa." They had approached near enough to the island by that time to perceive that wonderful changes had indeed taken place, and Van der Kemp, who had been for some time silently absorbed in contemplation, at last turned to his daughter and said
"Well, I don't see much use ob two, but which does you like to be called by Nadgel or Roy?" "Whichever you please, Moses; I'll answer to either. So now, good-bye for the present, and look out for me to-morrow at daylight." "Good-bye, Massa Nadgel, till to-morrer." The negro waved his hand and, sauntering slowly back to his boat, remarked in an undertone, "I lub dat young feller!"
"God help him!" cried Nigel in sudden alarm, "the ledge has been carried away and he cannot advance! Stay by the boat, Moses, I will run to help him!" "No, Massa Nadgel," returned the negro, "I go to die wid 'im. Boat kin look arter itself." He sprang on shore as he spoke, and dashed up the mountain-side like a hunted hare. Our hero looked at Winnie for an instant in hesitation.
If he were going in a big boat to save some of his goods and chattels I could understand it, but the canoe, you know, could carry little more than her ordinary lading." "Well, Massa Nadgel," said Moses, "it's my opinion dat he wants to go back 'cause he's got an uncommon affekshnit heart." "How? Surely you don't mean that his love of the mere place is so strong that "
"Look! look! Massa Nadgel, he's twitchin' all ober. De tiger's comin' to him now." "Looks like it, Moses." "Yes an', see, he grip de 'volver no, too soon, or de tiger's hoed away, for he's stopped twitchin'! dare; de tiger comes agin!" A gasp and clenching of the right hand seemed to warrant this assumption.
The listening monkey cocked its ear a little higher at this, and Moses, who had at first raised his flat nose indignantly in the air, gradually lowered it, while a benignant smile supplanted indignation. "You're right dere, Massa Nadgel. I'd die a t'ousand times sooner dan injure massa. As to your last obserwation, it rouses two idees in my mind.
"Well, I don't see much use ob two, but which does you like to be called by Nadgel or Roy?" "Whichever you please, Moses; I'll answer to either. So now, good-bye for the present, and look out for me to-morrow at daylight." "Good-bye, Massa Nadgel, till to-morrer." The negro waved his hand and, sauntering slowly back to his boat, remarked in an undertone, "I lub dat young feller!"
"No more kin I, Massa Nadgel," answered the negro, with one of those shakes of the head and glares of solemn perplexity with which he was wont to regard matters that were too deep for him. "Surely Van der Kemp is well able to take care of himself against any single foe." "Das true, Massa Nadgel, 'gainst any half-dozen foes as well." "Fear, therefore, cannot be the cause."
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