in the shade. But they had not the
slightest effect, and I crept into our rough tent again, smoothed the
blanket, and lay down and closed my eyes once more, while the two flies
were joined by another, and the buzzing was louder than ever.

"Go on," I said; "I don't care. One can't go to sleep in the daytime,
but one can rest one's legs;" and as I said this pettishly I knew it was
not true, for Pomp's heavy breathing came plainly through the canvas to
prove how thoroughly I was in the wrong.

So giving up all idea of going to sleep, I lay there on my back, looking
up at the fabric of the canvas, through which every now and then there
was a faint ray of sunshine so fine that a needle-point would have been
large in comparison. Then I began to think about my father, and what a
deal of care and anxiety he seemed to have; how sad he generally was;
and I set his grave manner down to the real cause--my mother's death.

Then I began to think of how hot it was, and that as near as I could
guess it must be two hours after noon. Then about how pleasant it would
be to begin rebuilding our house, and how long it would take, and about
Hannibal and Pomp, and what a gentleman the former seemed to be by
nature in his stern, quiet way; always willing to do anything for us,
and watching me whenever he saw me, to know if there was anything I
wanted; and so big, and strong, and brave.

Then I thought of our terrible experience under the great cypress tree,
and at one time it was very horrible, but directly after not at all so.

"It seems very terrible to kill any one, but Han knew that if he did not
kill them they would kill us, and I do believe he would sooner be killed
himself than let any one hurt either father or me. And what a rum
little fellow Pomp is," I thought; "and how he gives up directly
Hannibal says anything in his language.

"I wonder what his language is! One can't call it black language,
because it isn't black--only what black people speak. I wonder whether
I could learn it. Seems to be all _ing_, and _ung_, and _ang_, and
_ng_, without any letters before it. I'll make Hannibal teach me to
speak like he does. He would if I asked him. S'pose I should have to
learn it without books, and one couldn't write it, and--Oh, dear me!
How hot, and tired, and thirsty I am!

"I wish Pomp wouldn't buzz so.

"No, I mean I wish the flies wouldn't snore so.

"No; I mean the Indians--the--"

I started up, and looked rou