Christian life -- Juvenile fiction; Dinsmore, Elsie (Fictitious character) -- Juvenile fiction; Domestic fiction; Religious fiction
"Sambo's not my name, sah," said the negro, drawing himself up with
dignity; "I'se Napoleon Boningparty George Washington Marquis de
Lafayette, an' dey calls me Nap for short. If ye'll take off dat coat,
sah, an' dem boots, I'll take 'em out to de kitchen yard an' clean 'em."
"Thank you; if you will I'll give you a dollar. And if you'll brush the
mud from my pants first, I'll try the sofa; for I'm nearly dead for sleep
and rest."
"All right, sah," and Nap went to a closet, brought out a whisk, and using
it vigorously upon the pantaloons, soon brushed away the mud, which the
sun had made very dry. A few blood stains were left, but there was no help
for that at present. The coat was taken off with some difficulty on
account of the wounded arm, then the boots, and Jackson laid himself down
on the sofa and closed his eyes.
Nap threw the coat over his arm, and taking the boots in the other hand
went softly out, closing the door behind him. "Safe 'nuff now, I reckon,"
he chuckled to himself; "guess he not trabble far widout dese."
He was hardly gone, however, when Jackson roused himself and forced his
weary eyes to unclose. "As dangerous as to go to sleep when freezing," he
muttered. He rose, stepped to the closet door, and opened it.
A pair of boots stood on the floor, a coat hung on a peg. He helped
himself to both, sat down and drew on the boots, which were a little too
large but went on all the more readily for that. Now for the coat. It was
not new, but by no means shabby. He took out his knife, hastily ripped up
the right sleeve and put it on. It fitted even better than the boots.
Nap had brought a bottle of wine and left it on the office table,
forgetting to carry it back to the dining-room. Jackson took it up, and
placing it to his mouth drained the last drop. Then putting on his hat, he
stole softly from the house and down the avenue.
To his great joy a boat was just passing in the direction to take him
farther from Viamede. He signaled it, and was taken aboard.
"Been getting Dr. Balis to patch up a wound, eh, stranger?" said the
skipper, glancing at the disabled arm.
"Yes;" and Jackson repeated the story already told to the surgeon.
The skipper sympathized and advised a rest in the cabin.
"Thank you," said Jackson; "but I'm only going a few miles, when I'll
reach a point where, by taking to the woods again, I'll be likely to find
my friends; who are doubtless anxious to know what has become of me."
"Very well, sir, when we come to the right place, just let us know and
we'll put you off."
Evidently the skipper had heard nothing to arouse his suspicions. Jackson
was landed at the spot he pointed out--a lonely one on the edge of a
forest, without question or demur, and the boat went on its way.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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