human
I knew that you wanted a respite for her, said Peterkin, as we sat round our fire,
gpt
True, answered Jack.
human
The delay is not so brief, however, but that we may plan some method of getting the poor girl out of this scrape.--What say you, Mak?
gpt
If _you_ no can tink 'pon someting, I gib up all hope,
human
Come, Mak, cheer up, cried Peterkin.
gpt
If the worst comes to the worst, you can, at any rate, fight for your bride.
human
Fight! exclaimed the negro, displaying his white teeth like a mastiff, rolling his eyes and clinching his fists convulsively. Then in a calmer tone he continued,
gpt
Ay, me can fight. Me could kill all de guards an' take Okandaga by de hand, an' run troo de bushes for eber. But guards no die widout hollerin' an' yellerin' like de gorilla; an' nigger mans can run fasterer dan womans. No, no, dat am dumpossobable.
human
Nothing's `dumpossobable' to brave hearts and stout arms, replied Jack.
gpt
There are only four guards put over her, I believe. Well, there are just four of us--not that we require to be equal, by any means. Peterkin and I could settle them easily; but we require to be equal in numbers, in order to do it quietly. I have a plan in my head, but there's one hitch in it that I cannot unravel.
human
And what may that be?
gpt
Why, I don't see how, after getting clear off with Okandaga, we are to avoid being pursued on suspicion and captured.
human
Dere is one cave, remarked the guide,
gpt
That's a grave objection,
human
Yes, an' de tribe neber go near dere; dey is most drefful terrorfied to be cotched dere.
gpt
Then, that will just do, cried Jack, with animation.
human
The very thing. And now I'll tell you what my plan is. To-morrow morning early we will tell the king that we wish to be off at once--that we have put off too much time already, and wish to make no further delay. Then we'll pack up and start. At night we will encamp in a quiet, out-of-the-way part of the woods, and slip back to the village in the dark a short time before midnight. The whole village will at that time be assembled, probably, at the spot where the execution is to take place; so we can rush in, overpower the guard, free Okandaga, and make our escape to the cave, where they will never think of looking for us.
gpt
There are two difficulties in your plan, Jack. First, what if the natives are _not_ assembled on the place of execution, and we find it impossible to make our entrance into or exit from the village quietly?
human
I propose, replied Jack,
gpt
Umph! dashing, no doubt, but risky, said Peterkin--
human
We must take our chance of that. But I shall put the king on his honour before leaving, and say that I will make particular inquiry into the way in which the trial has been conducted on my return.
gpt
Put the king on his honour! observed Peterkin.
human
I'm afraid that you'll put his majesty on an extremely unstable foundation. However, I see nothing better that can be done.
gpt
Have you any more difficulties?
human
Yes, said I.
gpt
There is one other. What do you propose to do with the men who are to be supplied us by the king during these extremely delicate and difficult manoeuvres?
human
I never thought of them,
gpt
Nor I,
human
Well, said I,
gpt
The very thing, said Jack.
human
Now, comrades, to rest. I will occupy myself until I fall asleep in maturing my plans and thinking out the details. Do you the same, and if anything should occur to you let us consult over it in the morning.