Page 21 (1/1)

"Alphonse!" I called, careful to modulate my voice "Wake up, you black sleepy-head! Ay! I have you at last in the world again Now stop blinking, and pay heed to what I say Do you chance to knohere, for love, money, or any consideration, you could lay hands on olives in this town?"

The fellow, scarcely awake, rolled up the whites of his eyes for avainly to conjure up soood-hurin

"Fo' de Lord, yas sah! I'se your h Dat fat ol' Dutchman, down by de Tehoupitoulas Gate, suah as you're born had a whole barrel ob dem yesterday I done disremember fer de minute, boss, jist whar I done saw deht"

I drew forth a handful of French coins

"Then run for it, lad!" I exclais upon your speed--hold, wait! do you remember that old tumble-down shed we passed on our way here; the one which had once been a farrier's shop?"

The negro nodded, his eyes filled with awakened interest

"Good; then first of all bringold clothes you can scare up in the negro quarters of this town Leave theo directly to this Dutchman's, buy every olive he has for sale at any price, load them into a boat--a common huckster's boat, mind you, and remain there with them until I come Do you understand all that?"

"Yas, Massa; I reckon as how I kin do dat all right 'nough" The fellow grinned, every white ivory showing between his thick red lips

"Don't stop to speak to any one, black or white Now trot along lively, and e you I shall have none"

I watched hi-trot, took oneby her cable silent and mysterious as ever, and turned away fro with a sche life or death