poker fall on de
top ob deir heads, de oder man give a dig in Sam's left shoulder wid his
knife, and de sudden pain shake Sam's aim a little and de blow fall
on him neck. He gib a shout and tumble down. None ob do oder four
had shouted or made any remark when Sam hit dem. Den Sam caught up de
captain and ran along de wharf. Presently he heard a hail. 'All right,'
Sam said.

"'Am dat you, captain?' some one say.

"'Me got a captain here,' Sam say; 'you come and see wheder he yours.'

"De men came up and look in de captain's face.

"'Hullo,' dey say; 'de captain am dead.'

"'Me no tink him dead,' I say. 'He had a fight, and Sam come to him aid
and beat de rascals off. You had better take him straight on board de
ship.'

"Dey put him in boat and Sam go wid him to ship. Dey examine de wound
and find it not bery serious. De captain was turning round when dey
struck, and de blow had glanced off, but it had made a ugly gash; and
what wid de surprise, and de loss ob blood, and knocking him head on
de wharf, and de liquor, de captain had lost his consciousness. He soon
come round, and Sam tell all about it. De captain shake Sam's hand bery
much and call him his preserver, and ask what he do for him.

"'You take me out ob dis country,' me said, 'and Sam be grateful.'

"'Sartain, I will,' he said; 'and now what am de best ting to do?'

"'Me not stop on board now. Dey come and search de vessel for sure in
de morning. When de four white men found, me hope five, den dere great
rumpus. If five dead no suspicion fall on Sam, but you're sure to be
asked questions. It would be known dat dey were gambling in de saloon,
and it would be known dat you had broken de bank and had gone away wid
your pockets stuffed full ob notes. People would suspec' dat likely
enuff dey had made an attack on you. Dis you couldn't deny, for you will
be bandaged up in de morning, and if you had killed dem no one would
blame you. But it a different ting wid Sam. All dose rascals friends
together, and you be bery sure dat some ob dem pay him off for it. If
five men dead, all well and good. Den you say you knocked down and know
nufing furder. You s'pose some people came up and take your side, and
kill dose men, and carry you to de boat, and gib you ober to de sailors,
and den go away; but dat you know nufing at all about it. If only four
men killed den do oder, who will be sure to go away and say nufing ob
his share in de business, will tell all his mates