human
Most singular thing, said the doctor.
gpt
We can't go away and leave him alone in these wilds. But have everything ready for an immediate start, and we must wait.
human
I say, Morny, said Rodd,
gpt
There's no path into the forest, he said,
human
To go where?
gpt
I don't know. I was only thinking of what any one might try to do.
human
And then, said Rodd,
gpt
Sure to, said Morny;
human
Hi! Joe Cross! cried Rodd.
gpt
Put what's left of the breakfast in a wild banana leaf again and leave it on the bank.
human
Got it all ready here, sir,
gpt
Why, Morny, cried Rodd, catching his companion sharply by the arm,
human
Where are the niggers?
gpt
Yes; they have always been ready waiting till we finished our meals. They were there last night.
human
Yes, said Morny;
gpt
Then where are they this morning?
human
What are you two talking about?
gpt
About those two blacks, uncle,
human
What about them, sir?
gpt
They have always been hanging about, uncle, till we had done our meals, and then waited for what was left.
human
Yes. True. I saw them paddle across last night in the dark and fetch what was put for them, in a curious animal-like way.
gpt
But you didn't see them go back, uncle?
human
Yes, I did, sir, and I remember thinking how cat-like they were in their actions, pouncing upon the food and eating it there and then. I watched them till they had done, so as to see them steal off again with their boat, and I meant to write a note about it in my paper regarding this trip.
gpt
Well, they are not waiting this morning, uncle,
human
No,
gpt
Well, uncle, what do you make of that?
human
I don't know, my lad. What do you make of it?
gpt
I don't quite know, uncle. They are savages.
human
Yes, boy, they are savages.
gpt
And they've got spears, uncle,
human
There you go again, sir! cried Uncle Paul, irascibly now.
gpt
You know perfectly well, Rodney, how this sort of thing annoys me. I suppose the next thing you will be telling me is that one of them came with his spear and behaved as one of Captain Cook's friends says the Australian blacks behaved to the girls they wanted to steal for their wives.
human
No, I don't, uncle, cried the boy ill-humouredly.
gpt
I don't know what Captain Cook's friends say. I hardly know who Captain Cook is--Yes, I do: he's the man who sailed round the world.
human
Well, then, I'll tell you, sir. He said the blacks come in the dark, twist their spears in the girls' hair, and carry them away. And I suppose you mean to infer that that's what has become of the Spanish captain?
gpt
I don't, uncle,
human
But if you do, sir, you are wrong; for the Don, as you two lads nicknamed him, had hardly a bit of hair on his head. There, there, there; being cross won't make any better of it. Hope to goodness that nothing has happened to the poor fellow. Can't have got up in the night and walked away in his sleep, can he?
gpt
Well, but if he had, uncle, he must have woke up by this time, and then he'd walk back again.
human
Well, we can't go without him, my dear lads. He has been a very faithful servant to us, and it would be a mean, cowardly, despicable act for us to leave him in the lurch. Oh, it's impossible. It would be little better than murder to leave a man here without a boat.