"Pomp quite well 'gain."

"Want something to eat?" I said, smiling.

"Yes, Mass' George. Pomp dreffle hungly now."

"Oh well, we'll soon settle that," I said; and I looked round for the
food, much of which was then lying under the big cypress, close to the
heap of ashes I had once called home.

"I'm afraid there is nothing left, Pomp," I said, apologetically.

"Eh?"

"I'm afraid there is nothing to give you," I said.

"What? No go eat all dat and hab not bit for poor Pomp! Oh!"

He swung himself round, threw himself down on his face, and groaned.

Hannibal said a few words in a deep stern voice, and the boy moaned
out--

"But poor Pomp so dreffle hungly."

There was something so childishly absurd in his anger that I could not
help laughing, the effect being that in his excitable state he turned
upon me with a fierce gesture that reminded me of the day he was landed
from the slaver.

But at that moment Hannibal's deep firm voice rose in so stern a tone
that the boy shrank down again in the boat.

Hannibal spoke again as he continued rowing, and as I listened to the
curious sweet-sounding barbarous tongue, I felt as if I would have given
anything to have been able to understand what was said.

But though I did not comprehend the words, I did their sense, for Pomp
came crawling up closer to me like a beaten dog, and held up one hand
deprecatingly.

"Pomp dreffle sorry," he said. "Don't Mass' George flog lil nigger for
get in pashum. Pomp so dreffle hungly."

"Oh, I'm not cross," I said, good-temperedly.

"And Mass' George not flog poor lil nigger?"

"I will if you ever say so again," I cried.

"Oh!"

"When were you ever flogged? Did I ever flog you?"

"No, Mass' George."

"Then why did you say that?"

"Mass' George often look going flog lil nigger."

"Then don't say it again, and you shall soon have something to eat. We
are close to the wharf."

For there in full view was the flag flying on its pine-tree staff, and
the boats lay off anchored in the river. But the place looked
singularly deserted, and it seemed very strange for there to be no one
visible idling about, boating, or at work in the plantations; not a
single person being in sight till we got some distance farther on, and
the block-house and palisade seemed to come out from behind the trees,
when the sentries could be plainly seen, and the group by the open
gates, while the interior of the enclosure looked like a busy c