ast as
he could. Under other circumstances this might have been a wise
proceeding, for he certainly could run faster than the black man, who
was not only big but fat. He had scarcely begun to run when a piece of
painted wood came whizzing through the air after him, which would
certainly have knocked him down had it hit him. He dodged it, however;
but the next moment he heard the gruff voice of the black hounding on a
dog, and when he turned his head he saw a huge Spanish bloodhound
leaping over the pailing, followed by the negro. To attempt to escape
was now hopeless, so he ran forward, flourishing his stick in the hope
of keeping the dog at bay. When the negro saw he was coming back he
called the hound off him.

"For why you run so?" exclaimed the negro, who saw that he was an
Englishman.

"For the same reason that a pig does, because I was in a hurry,"
answered Jack, who saw that his best course was to put a good face on
the matter.

"Ah, you funny young ossifer, you laugh moch," observed the negro.

"Yes, it runs in the family, we are addicted to laughing," replied Jack
with perfect coolness. "And now, old gentleman, I'm very sharp set, and
as I doubt not that you have, plenty of provender in your house, I shall
be much obliged to you for some supper."

The negro evidently could not make out what Jack was about, and seemed
to have an idea that he had run away from his ship. Jack was not sorry
to encourage this. The black was evidently balancing in his mind
whether he should make most by giving him up and claiming a reward, or
helping him to hide, and then getting possession of any wealth he might
have about him. He, in the most friendly way, led Jack into his house.
It was very neatly built of bamboo, of considerable size, oblong in
shape, and divided into four or five rooms. In one was a table, with
some chairs; and the negro, having given some orders in a loud voice to
several ebon-hued damsels, who appeared at the door, in a short time
several dishes of meat and grain were placed on it. "Come you eat,"
said the host. Jack stuck his fork into the meat. It was not a hare,
or a rabbit, or a pig, or a kid. He could not help thinking of his
friend Quacko, as he turned it over and over. However, he was very
hungry, and he thought he would taste a bit. It was very tender and
nice, so he resolved that he would not ask questions, but go on eating
till his appetite was satisfied. There was a sort of p