While thus humanely engaged, his fluent tongue went on, and on, and on.
Sometimes he would address his remarks to Burlman Rennuls, enlarging
upon the valorous deeds and distinguished abilities of the Fighting
Nigger--such signal proofs whereof he, Burlman Rennuls, had that day
enjoyed the rare pleasure of witnessing. Then he would throw out some
side hints, meant only for the private ear of the dead savage, relative
to the incompatibleness of blue coats and ruffled shirts with the pure
Indian costume--that unlucky individual being admonished that
thereafter, if he did not wish to be thought a dirty, sneaking,
low-lived thief, he would do well "to stick to his raggedy rawhide tags
and feathers." Oftener, though, the black surgeon would be making some
comment touching the matter more immediately in hand--seeming to take
more interest therein than the patient himself, who, Indian-like, could
hardly have manifested less concern in what was doing for his relief
than had the wounded limb been hanging to some other man's shoulder, and
he but an accidental spectator of what was passing.
When the wound was bandaged, or rather bundled up, the young Indian,
improvising a sling of his ammunition-pouch, slipped his arm in between
the straps--this being the first notice he had apparently taken of his
own mishap.
"Now, as you's fixed up an' feelin' easy an' good, me an' Grumbo will
take a bite o' somethin' to eat: hain't had our breakfas' yit, an'
hungry as dogs. So, you an' Bushie jes' set heer on de log, while we
look about us fur some grub. Den we'll all go a-p'radin' home togedder,
arm-in-arm."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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