But if you tell urn dat you is only thirty, den he
won't. Now remember dat you is thirty years old and no more."
"Well den, I guess I will only be thirty when dey ax me."
"What's your name?" said Pompey, addressing himself to another.
"Jeems."
"Oh! Uncle Jim, is it?"
"Yes."
"Den you must have all them gray whiskers shaved off, and all dem
gray hairs plucked out of your head." This was all said by Pompey
in a manner which showed that he know what he was about.
"How old is you?" asked Pompey of a tall, strong-looking man.
"What's your name?"
"I am twenty-nine years old, and my name is Tobias, but they calls
me Toby."
"Well, Toby, or Mr. Tobias, if dat will suit you better, you are
now twenty-three years old; dat's all,--do you understand dat?"
"Yes," replied Toby.
Pompey now gave them all to understand how old they were to be when
asked by persons who were likely to purchase, and then went and
reported to his master that the old boys were all right.
"Be sure," said Jennings, "that the niggers don't forget what you
have taught them, for our luck this time in the market depends
upon their appearance. If any of them have so many gray hairs that
you cannot pluck them out, take the blacking and brush, and go at
them."
CHAPTER IV
THE BOAT-RACE.
AT eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage,
the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and
apparently coming up very fast. This was the signal for a general
commotion on board the Patriot, and everything indicated that a
steamboat-race was at hand.
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