His teeth already began to chatter, and the cold
without and the comfort within stimulated him greatly to enter. He made
his approaches with proper caution, and knocked with extreme humility.
The appearance of Hollister with a drawn sword, roughly demanding who
was without, contributed in no degree to the restoration of his
faculties; but fear itself lent him power to explain his errand.
"Advance," said the sergeant, throwing a look of close scrutiny on the
black, as he brought him to the light; "advance, and deliver your
dispatches. Have you the countersign?"
"I don't t'ink he know what dat be," said the black, shaking in his
shoes, "dough massa dat sent me gib me many t'ings to carry, dat he
little understand."
"Who ordered you on this duty, did you say?"
"Well, it war he doctor, heself, so he come up on a gallop, as he always
do on a doctor's errand."
"'Twas Doctor Sitgreaves; he never knows the countersign himself. Now,
blackey, had it been Captain Lawton he would not have sent you here,
close to a sentinel, without the countersign; for you might get a pistol
bullet through your head, and that would be cruel to you; for although
you be black, I am none of them who thinks niggers have no souls."
"Sure a nagur has as much sowl as a white," said Betty.
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