It's the
steward, sir--he's got a touch of a fever; but he'll soon be over it.
He only wants rest, poor fellow! He's bin a bully at work ever since the
first gale. He'll mend before he gets to town," was the reply.

"Ah! then you've had a double dose of it. It gives a fellow bringer off
them capes once in a while.--The steward's a nigger, isn't he?" inquired
the pilot.

"Nigger!--not he," said the mate. "He's a Portuguese mixed breed; a kind
o' sun-scorched subject, like a good many of you Southerners. A nigger's
mother never had him, you may bet your 'davie on that. There's as much
white blood in his jacket as anybody's got, only them Portuguese are
dark-lookin' fellers. He's no fool--his name's Manuel, a right clever
feller, and the owners think as much of him as they do of the Skipper."

"Gammon," said the pilot to himself. "What would he think if we were
to show him some specimens of our white niggers in Charleston?" And
turning, he walked past Manuel with a suspicious look, and took a
position near the man at the wheel, where he remained for some time
fingering the seals of his watch-chain. The Captain had gone into the
cabin a few minutes before, and coming on deck again, walked toward the
place where the pilot stood, and took a seat upon an old camp-stool.

"Cap," said the pilot, "ye'll have trouble with that nigger of your'n
when ye git to town. If you want to save yerself and the owners a d--d
site o' bother and expense, y' better keep him close when y' haul in;
and ship him off to New York the first chance. I've seen into the mill,
Cap, and y' better take a friend's advice."

"Nigger!" said the Captain indignantly, "what do they call niggers in
Charleston? My steward's no more a nigger than you are!"

"What, sir?" returned the pilot in a perfect rage. "Do you know the
insulting nature of your language? Sir, if the law did not subject me,
I would leave your vessel instantly, and hold you personally responsible
as soon as you landed, sir."

The Captain, unconscious of the tenacity with which the chivalrous blood
of South Carolina held language that mooted a comparison of colors,
considered his answer; but could see nothing offensive in it.

"You asked me a question, and I gave you a proper answer. If you
consider such a man as my steward--poor fellow--a nigger, in your
country, I'm glad that you are blessed with so many good men."

"We polishes our language, Captain, when we speak of niggers in South