“I’ll be along in half an hour, then.”

Jack found the oyster house readily. As he entered the little, not
over-clean place, he found himself the only customer. He gave his order,
then picked up the local daily paper. As he ate, Jack found himself
yawning. The drowsiness of Annapolis by night was coming upon him. Little
did he dream how soon he was to discover that Annapolis, in some of its
parts, can be lively enough.

As he paid his bill and stepped to the street, a young mulatto hurried up
to him.

“Am Ah correct, sah, in supposin’ yo’ Cap’n Jack Benson?”

“That’s my name,” Jack admitted.

“Den Ah’s jes’ been ’roun’ to de hotel, lookin’ fo’ yo’, sah. One ob yo’
men, Mistah Sam Truax, am done took sick, an’ he done sent me fo’ yo’.”

“Truax ill? Why, I saw him a couple of hours ago, and he looked as healthy
as a man could look,” Jack replied, in astonishment.

“I reckon, sah, he’s mighty po’ly now, sah,” replied the mulatto. “He done
gib me money fo’ to hiah a cab an’ take yo’ to him. Will yo’ please to
come, sah?”

“Yes,” agreed Jack. “Lead the way.”

“T’ank yo’, sah; t’ank yo’, sah. Follow me, sah.”