Do let Cephas harness the horse
into the chaise at once. He may change his mind. Oh, hurry, father,
do; don't, oh, don't lose a minute."
Half an hour later, Cephas, an old freedman of Edwards, drove the
chaise up to the side door, and a few bundles having been put into the
vehicle, Desire herself entered, and was driven hastily away toward
Pittsfield.
To go back to Perez, on reaching the guardhouse, coming from the
store, he went in and sat down in the headquarters room. Presently,
Abe Konkapot, who was officer of the day, entered and spoke to him.
Perez making no reply, the Indian spoke again, and then went up to him
and laid his hand on his shoulder.
"What is it?" said Perez, in a dull voice.
"What matter with you, Cap'n? Me speake tree time. You no say nothin.
You seek?" Perez looked up at him vacantly.
"He no drunk?" pursued Abe, changing from the second to the third
person in his mode of speech, as he saw the other paid no attention.
"Seem like was heap drunk, but no smell rum," and he scratched his
head in perplexity. Then he shook Perez' shoulder again. "Say, Cap'n,
what ails yer?"
"She's going away, Abe. Desire Edwards is going away," replied Perez,
looking up at the Indian in a helpless, appealing way.
Pages:
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338