"Dat am belly nice," said Wah.

"Den arter I'd eat, an' eat an' eat, till I couldn't more'n stan', I'd have some one pick me up and tote me off to de wahmest, softest bed--"

At this point Sam interrupted by saying:

"We must all take off our clothes and wring them out, for I am not going to try it again till morning."

CHAPTER XIX.-AFLOAT AGAIN.

Work is the one certain remedy for a troubled mind. Sam felt that if he didn't do something he should go distracted, and judging by his own feelings he reasoned that it would be better for Ike and Wah Shin if their hands and brains were employed.

He made them wring out their own clothes and the blankets, and spread them on the rocks to dry; and then all three set to work to repair the damage to the raft.

They found that the ropes that held the logs together had been cut and frayed by the keen edges of the rocks, with which they were brought into contact.

They took the whole raft to pieces; first having tied the rope till it was as strong, though shorter, than it was before, and then they refastened the whole structure, making it as secure as possible with the material at hand.

They had but just completed their work, and made the raft fast by anchoring it to a stone, when it suddenly grew so dark that they could hardly see each other.

They next put on their clothes, which were far from being dry, and their discomfort was increased by a keen, cold wind, that came driving down the canon.

"Wat's to be did de nex'?" asked Ike, his teeth chattering and his voice tremulous with the cold.

"We must move about till our clothes get dry. It will never do to have rheumatism added to our other troubles," said Sam.

"Wa'al, I dunno dat we'd be much de wuss off, if we had rheumatiz, an'

measles, an' toothaches, an' dem tings. Fac' is, Mistah Sam, we couldn't well be in a badder fix, no matter wat happened to us."

"Oh, yes," drawled Wah Shin, "'spose we hab no clothes, no laftee, no gun, no can gettee way, den wat?"

"Keep moving, boys, till you get warm," called out Sam, and he set the example by walking about on the flat top of the rock, taking care that neither himself nor companions went too close to the perilous edge.

The exertion and the heat of their bodies warmed them up and dried their clothes, but by this time it was near midnight.

There was no danger of being disturbed by savage foe or wild beast, still Sam thought it better to keep up the system of guards he had first established.

He was so weary that he could have dropped on the hard, cold rock on which he stood, and been asleep at once, but that fine sense of duty that distinguished all his acts, led him to forget or put aside his own wants for the safety and comfort of others.

But though Ike loved to eat and sleep as well as any youth, black or white, that ever lived, there was a "streek" of thoughtfulness and unselfishness in his character that a.s.serted itself now and then.

When the order of the watch was arranged, Ike laid his hand on his young master's shoulder and said:

"See heah, Mistah Sam, does yeh tink I'm blind?"

"Certainly not, Ike. Why should you ask such a question as that?" asked Sam, in great surprise.

"Coz, Ize got de reasons."

"Well, what are they?"

"Don't yeh tink I'ze been a watchin' ob yeh?"

"What of it, Ike?"

"Dar's dis ob it. I'ze seed yeh a workin' an' a workin', an' not gettin'

no rest nur sleep, but jest a layin' yersel' out foh to keer for us no-account folks, and make us comf'able. Now, I know I'm mean 'bout habin' my share ob grub an' sleepin', an' dem tings, but I ain't so mean's not to see an' tink."

"You are a good fellow, Ike, but I really can't see what you are driving at," said Sam.

"I'm dribein' at dis, dat you'z got to rest de fust one. Har, de blankets ain't so awful wet, an' if you ain't wahm enough, yeh can hab my coat. So do lie down an' take a sleep, dat'll make yeh brain more clarer foh to tink to-morrow."

When one is inclined to a thing, it does not require much urging.

Sam yielded to Ike's entreaties, which were supported by Wah Shin, in the strongest English he could command.

They made him as comfortable as possible under the circ.u.mstances, and, after promising to wake him when his turn came, they crept off some distance, and sitting down side by side they talked in whispers like a pair of conspirators.

"Wah Shin?"

"Glang, Ike, me gottee no deaf," said Wah.

"You're a good feller."

"Me tinkee so, too," said the modest Mongolian.

"You like Mistah Sam?"

"Oh, yes; likee him gleat heap."

"I thought so."

"Him belly fine youngee man."

"Now, Wah, you an' me's had a heap sight more sleep dan Mistah Sam since we started out on dis yar scrimmidge, ain't we?"

"Oh, yes, heap molee."

"So," continued Ike with the confidential whisper of one about to communicate a great secret, "I wants you an' me to play a trick on him."

"Playee tlick!" repeated Wah, puzzled as to the meaning.

"Yes; yeh see he's sleepin' now like a angel."

"Dunno; me nebel see angel. W'at him?"