"You'd better be careful how you talk, or you may get locked up when
the sheriff comes."
It seems that the Captain had received a note from him, addressed by
one of the white prisoners on the same floor, and reached the jail
just as Manuel had ascended the stairs. He rang the bell and
requested to see Manuel.
"Manuel Pereira?" inquired the jailer.
"Yes," said the Captain, "he is my steward."
He heard the Captain's voice, and immediately returned to the lobby.
The tears ran down his cheeks as soon as he saw his old protector.
"Well, Manuel, I am glad to see you, but sorry that it is in
imprisonment. Tell me what is the matter. Don't they use you well
here?" inquired the Captain.
Stepping within the office door, he caught up the pieces of meat,
and bringing them out in his hands, held them up. "There, Capitan,
that no fit for man, is it?" said he. "Law send me prison, but law
no give not'ing to eat. What I do dat people treat me so? Ah,
Capitan, bull neck, by gar, yes-bull born in South Carolina, wid two
neck. Ils sont r‚duits … l'extr‚mit‚," said he, concluding with
broken French.
"That cannot be; it's against the law to kill bulls in South
Carolina," interrupted the jailer jocosely.
"Must be. I swear he bull-neck, 'cas he cum every day just like him.
Bull born wid one neck no cum so many.
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