166 CRUSOE'S ISLAND. 



liriiim, leaving to liim the care of all my possessions, 

 including myself. It was three days later that I re- 

 covered full consciousness of my surroundings, and 

 another day had passed before I could summon 

 strength enough to inquire as to events subsequent to 

 my attack. 



Then I found myself lying upon a comfortable cot 

 which my man had improvised for the time and occa- 

 sion, making a rough frame and filling a sack of can- 

 vas with husks from the maize. 



Noting my look of astonishment as I felt along the 

 mattress and my evident approval, he hastened to ex- 

 plain : " Yo' see, sah, de hamak, him bery crooked, 

 an' you git all double up, an' when you toss about an' 

 trow yo' ahms round, like yo' don't rest, me tink um 

 bed much better fo' yo', sah." 



I thanked him with my eyes, feeling grateful, in- 

 deed, for this evidence of thoughtfulness, and he pro- 

 ceeded : " Yo' see, sah, me took um liberty of staying 

 heah till yo' recob'ry, sah, becose yo' not able to care 

 for yo'sef ; but when yo' well 'nough to dispense wiv 

 ma services, me seek um house at tudder end ob 

 island, sah." 



" No, no," I whispered, " don't hasten away, un- 

 less you have to go. I have another hut you can oc- 

 cupy, and we can find provisions enough to last us 

 some time yet." 



" Yes, massa, me see um tudder hut, down by de 

 sho' of what dey call um ' Man-o'-Wah Bay ' ; an' it 

 fine place fo' ole man Ned ; me hab no 'casion to go, 

 massa, an' wiv yo' permishun me stop wiv yo' little 



