Short stories

Once upon a time, Harry, lived a man, who bought an estate in land, lying in a form so round, so square, that if the mathematicians had had the ordering it, they could scarce have put more land within a less circumference. Only, there happened to be sixty acres in the centre, the property of a neighbouring gentleman, with a right of road to it on three sides. These circumstances made the value of it to the new purchaser twice as great as to any one else. He therefore paid his neighbour the first friendly visit, which, according to the country etiquette, was paying him a compliment.

I am vastly fond, Harry, of extracting the marrow of conversations, by which means, the offence of an hour's talk, may be put into a minute's reading, and the matter, like my friend's land, may come within the least circumference.

Have you any objection, says the new comer to the resident, to selling such a parcel of land for a good price?

A good price would be a temptation, no doubt, replies the gentleman, otherwise it is an old family estate.

Will you name it, says the first?

About four thousand, says the second. Exorbitant, says the first.

'Tis above the market, doubtless, replies the second, and so it ought; its value to you is twice the common rate; and I think myself entitled to a better price on that consideration.

A gentleman, (the word a little accented, Harry) would think more of obliging his neighbour, than of taking advantage of his necessity.

The other resented the accentuation. Words arose. They parted. Opposed each other at the ensuing election, at the expense of twenty thousand pounds a piece, and still continue to do each other all manner of left hand kind offices possible. A wise man, sayeth Solomon, seeketh his own emolument, by means the most likely to obtain it.

If there be any thing in the above tale applicable to thy negotiation with Samuel Sutton, thou wilt ask thyself, if thou art a wise man I will tell thee a story, above two thousand years old, which will show, that thou mayest be a great politician, answer the above question how thou wilt.

Carthage, Harry, had settled colonies in the Hesperides, which, in time, grew to be worth something. Carthage desired to tax these fortunate islands: The fortunate islands did not desire to be taxed. The marrow of their negotiations may be comprised in the following short dialogue.

C. We are to desire you, gentlemen, to submit, patiently and lovingly, to a few taxes, which our country will do itself the honour today upon yours, as times: and occasions may offer.

H. We must beg the favour of you to permit us to tax ourselves, as the people of your good country are accustomed to do, whom we are fond of imitating, and of calling our friends and brethren, upon all occasions.

C. To tax yourselves, will not answer our purpose; for how can you be judges of what we want?

H. At least as well as you can be, of what we are able to pay.

C If you give us no more than you like, that will probably be very little.

H. If you take from us what you please, that will probably be very much.

C. We have laid a heavy load upon ourselves, for your emolument; gratitude ought to induce you to submit to our demands.

H. Honestly, now, did you do this for our sakes, or your own? But be it for ours, we are making your people a large return, by working for them with all our might. The greatest part of the whole profit of our industry has been always yours. Permit it, to continue so. Turn all our trade into your own harbours, as you are wont. Tax in your own country the commodities you make us buy. But let us be favoured with the privilege your people so justly boast of as their greatest safeguard. Let us give and grant our own money.

C As to the benefit of your trade, it may be something to our people in general; but what is it to the necessities of government? We want a benefit flowing full and fast into the exchequer; we don't understand your round-about way of fending it through the body of the people.

H. We believe it; otherwise you would certainly be content with receiving it, as you now do, in the best manner possible, for the good of the whole.

C. What we have already, we have no occasion to demand. More; gentlemen, more, and by a straightforward road.

H. We cannot consent to it,

C. Then, by G--d, we will dragoon you, till you do.

H. Pray, gentlemen, consider. Let us beg you to hear what we have to say? For both our sakes, gentlemen.

C. Implicit compliance, unconditional submission, and your money, are the things we want, and will have.

H. Win them, and wear them. So Carthage sent out fleets and armies, and spent as much of her own money in five years, as she had expected to get of her colonies in one hundred. Fare thee well, Henry.

The life of a lord, continues my friend, consists principally of his amours, his pottle-deep potations, his politics and his --- hazards. If you desire more of the first, apply to his bosom friend Captain Wycherley, who had the honour to be superintendent of my lord's private pleasures some years.

The manner of how he came to this honour, belongs to the second class, and is a very foolish story, not worth your hearing; for bacchanalian exploits are too numerous, too senseless, and uninteresting, to waste a breath about.

I was determined, Harry, to have all I could get notwithstanding, and calling for another bottle of port, for which my friend has no small relish, I paid him a few compliments on the manner of his telling a story, and desired him to proceed minutely.

My lord, says he, and two young gentlemen of his acquaintance, took it into their heads, by way of frolic, to go on horseback to Burford races, without any other attendants than one servant each. Night overtook them at a spacious village in Oxfordshire, possessed of one of those comfortable inns, which make more case of a wagon than a coach. The sole inconvenience was, that they were obliged to go to bed sober; or to get drunk with ale, which stupefies the finer faculties; or with brandy, that inflames them to a degree of insanity.

About the silent hour of twelve, perceiving themselves raised above common mortality, one of them proposed a sally in the village, just to break a few windows, to kick the constables, and beat the watch. The servants being nearly as drunk as themselves, out they went in body. It was the time of hay harvest, a serene night, and the twilight strong. Not finding constables and watchmen, they contented themselves by throwing gates off the hooks, overturning wagons and carts into ponds and ditches, and other small mischiefs such as the country afforded. At length, my lord, to the eternal honour of nobility, fell upon the most brilliant thought imaginable, which seemed inspired by the genius of the place. This was no other than to let out all the hogs into the streets and gardens. It had the finest effect in the world. The pigs set all the dogs a-barking, the bulls roared, the calves bleated, and the affrighted horses came upon full gallop each to his own stable door.

What with this, the cackling of geese and hens, and the gobbling of turkeys, it was the finest tintamarre that could be conceived. The wits exulted, and swore the noted Buckhorse never did anything half so great. Some shouted to increase the concert, some sung; they were at the very summit of rural felicity, when they felt a sudden something, applied with wonderful quickness to their backs and their shoulders, by no means calculated to increase their pleasures.

In two minutes they were all laid sprawling on the ground, and howling for mercy; "I am a lord," says one; "I am a baronet," says another; "I am a member of parliament," says a third.

Males and females now came pouring in from every side. "Woman," says one, "if you'll believe me, there's not a pea nor a bean standing in my garden, and I'm four months gone wi' child."

"And I promise you, neighbour," says another, "the pigs ha'n rooted up all my carrots."

"And Mrs Topham's in fits," says a third, "and like to miscarry. And there's Molly Bird, as was married but this very morning, and the rogues cried fire just under her window."

"Let's ha' their heart's blood out," cries half a dozen at once. The men really resigned the conquest, and the good women, after pommelling and tearing till they became weary, dragged them to a clay horse-pond, and plumped them in, one after another.

At this instant arrived the landlord of the inn, with the hostler, and Mr Gregory Wycherley, the son of an Irish butcher of some property, who, with a drove of fat oxen, had taken up his night's residence at the inn.

The landlord began to harangue the crowd, but the clacks of the women, with their eternal dashing of muddy water upon the hapless culprits, quite ruined his oration. Mr Gregory Wycherley, who feared no man at quarter-staff, began then to lay about him, and being seconded by the hostler, soon dispersed the females. The landlord, too fat to fight, supplied his own party with weapons from the neighbouring hedges, by the help of which, they made a tolerable retreat to the inn door, where the villagers, exasperated at being likely to lose their prey, renewed the battle stoutly.

It was owing to the invincible force of Mr Gregory's right arm, that at length they all got safely housed, but so bruised, so battered, and so bemudded, that all the strengths and spirits they had left, were but just sufficient to put themselves to bed, which they did not quit for the next six and thirty hours. Their levee was honoured with the presence of the constable, who politely begged the favour of their company to the house of a neighbouring justice of peace.

My lord and his companions swore oaths faster than the constable could count them, and Mr Wycherley, who had staid at my lord's request, gave himself twenty times over to the devil, that if such an insult were offered to my lord in his presence, he would knock out the first scoundrel who should attempt to attach him.

The constable was a principal farmer of the town, a man of sense and spirit, and by good luck, knew something of his office. Scowling contempt at Mr Wycherley, "Who you are, sir, I do not know, and, to be plain with you, I do not care. But for this gentleman, who calls himself a lord, and these other two, who style themselves gentlemen, I attach them now, sir, in your presence, as disturbers of the king's peace, and destroyers of the property of his majesty's subjects; and as for you, sir, dare to interrupt me in the execution of my office, and you shall feel the full effect of my power. If I dare do justice on a lord, I am not likely to be frightened at the menaces of a bully."

A mild, venerable old gentleman, the rector of the parish, who had entered along with the constable, desired leave to speak with my lord alone; my lord retired with him into another apartment. Soon after, the constable was sent for, and the result was, my lord left one hundred pounds in the rector's hands, to be distributed amongst the sufferers in the proportion of their damage; the overplus to the poor. Thus ended this most honourable frolic, except that my lord took a liking to Mr Gregory Wycherley, procured him a commission, caused him to sell it for half pay, rather than he should go into America, and keeps him always about his person.

As to politics, continues my friend, they are above my depth. I have indeed dipped into history, especially that of the Romans, and find that in the times of the republic, especially the earlier times, it was the fashion to live, to fight, to die, pro patria. When armies became mercenary, this feeling lost ground. The soldier fought always for pay, and sometimes for plunder; and the general also; and this seems to be the case at present all over the globe. However, abundance of fine things have been said about this Amor patriæ both in Greek , and some gentlemen who have the classical taste, talk of it to this day; and this is all that can be expected. Most of the English writers, I believe, translate this Amor patriæ by the single word liberty, and there is reason to think our ancestors might be in earnest about the thing. At present, we content ourselves with inquiring into the gentleman's birth and parentage, how old he is, and when he will come to be a man. Dr Price[4] a person of pensive cast, who seldom laughs, says, "He is still a child, and rickety, and that the nation will go to the devil, for taking no better care of him."

"On the contrary," Mr Eden[5] says, "he is as fine a youth as need to be seen, and the nation is a perfect paradise of wealth and happiness."

Having little else to do. I looked into both the books, and after a year's attention, for I would not decide hastily, I made up my mind as to their respective merits. Dr Price's book seems to me to have two unpardonable faults: Too much truth, and too little complaisance. Mr Eden's corrects these errors, and may, not improperly perhaps, be compared to a garden full of the sweetest and finest flowers in the world, but with little or nothing to eat.

Be this as it will, since the world began, there have been but two general ways to govern mankind, by kissing, and by kicking. And it is astonishing, after such a world of experience, statesmen have not yet fully determined which is best. It is owing to this I suppose, that the ministry of this enlightened age, kiss their own countrymen upon one cheek, their beloved Irish upon both, and kick America with all their might.

By this time I began to perceive my friend was giving me a sketch of his own politics, than of my lord's; I endeavoured therefore to draw him back to his original ground; but I found by his sparkling eyes and increased volubility, that orderly details were at an end.

Zoons, says he, what is to be said of the opinions of a man, who never formed an opinion in his life? To think for one's self has no definition in the Court vocabulary. In the world at large, indeed, there are few who think, and the rest of mankind are their echoes. But at Versailles, Madrid, and other places of this stamp, which are all mightily like each other, courtiers are the universal echoes of those that Will, not those that think.

"Sure, my friend," says I, "you carry your satire here too far; the common occupations of government require intense thought, and unceasing application."

"And where the devil will they get it?" says he. "You may compare government, if you will, to a manufacture of buttons. These once set on foot, will continue to be made; Well, if the master looks carefully into the whole; Ill, if in haste to go to dinner, to his wench, his bottle, or bowling-green, he gives his orders as things strike him at a single view. Now, whether government plays the part of the provident or precipitate master, if causes are to be known by their effects --- let effects speak."

Once more I endeavoured to turn my rambling friend back to the business of my good Lord Winterbottom. He was too far gone for anything but invective.

"If," says he, "a man is to be found of more servility at St Jame's, or tyranny at home, send me on[6] a pilgrimage to Mecca. Since he has been in possession of his estate, he has changed his household, I mean to say his household has changed, three times over. Many of his servants are unpaid to this hour, and for his tradesmen, there is not a nobleman in town, with a more numerous band of supplicants. In short, the man has a mean soul and a corrupted heart, and there's an end of the story.

The sole inhabitants of the house now, were Sir George, his old woman, and Mr. Benjamin Fidel, whose diligence and attention had often attracted his master's notice; and whose woeful countenance witnessed his attachment. When Sir George was disposed to speak, he asked him questions, and wondered at the good sense of his answers. The slave trade was at this time becoming a popular topic. Finding he was born in Africa, Sir George asked him of his captivity, and by what means it had been produced. He answered --- that he was a native of Benin, and that his country name was Benihango. When he was twelve years old he accompanied his father down to the coast. An English vessel was there, and his father having purchased all his gold dust away, found himself still wanting. It was not that he did not love his Benihango, but he had six children at home, and never a Birmingham musket. So for this grand acquisition, and a small quantity of powder and shot, his father delivered him to the care of a Liverpool master, who had a very good voyage to Jamaica, the heat and stench killing only twenty-seven, out of two hundred and three.

"How long were you in Jamaica?" Sir George asked.

"Thirteen years," answered Fidel.

"Were you much oppressed?"

Fidel with great simplicity answered, "I was in love."

"In love!" said Sir George.---What has that to do with oppression?"

"It oppress you, Sir George, do it not?"

"Me!" said Sir George.

"You will please me pardon, sir. I no ought to speak to you in dis way," said Fidel.

"Speak freely," said Sir George.

"Ven I vas Miss Colerain's servant, I did tink you love her. I did tink she love you. I did cry for joy. For she vas good. You was good. I not know what broke it. Dey did tell me the dignity on your part. I no tink so, cause you was not proud. But I did cry for sorrow---for that which made me miserable, would have made you so happy."

"How came it to make you miserable?" asked Sir George.

"De story do you no good, sir. It be long; it be melancholy."

"It will not displease me for that," said Sir George; "pray tell it me."

"I became the property of a Mr. Benfield, and was sent to work at a plantation with boys and girls about my own age. We were so good we did not want de whip; so we had it only once a week, I could not ver tell why; but masser was a good man and did not insist upon these whippings being bloody. Masser was a Creole to be sure, and I do tink the groans and shrieks of we de poor negroes unde whip, be the finest music in de vorld to dem; but masser was kind hearted; I do ver believe he would not have take the pleasure in de whip, if he did know a better vay to send a profitable cargo of the sugar into dis England.

"However, by the time I vas come to eighteen years of old, I did know de full power of de whip, and of de burning sun upon a raw back, when a chance accident did change my situation. Masser had son two years younger dan me. He vas one day in the pleasure boat wid two oder companions. Dere vas littel hurricane. De boat overset. De negroe dat did help me row, swam out and run to de plantation to get de help. I did keep young masser chin above water till de help came, and de order two vas drowned.

"Dis did me de consequence. I was taken to be young masser's own servant; who did say many times the first year, dat he did owe his life to me; dat he never could make me de sufficient satisfaction, and if ever I did come to be his property, I should see.

"I did attend him four years at Kingston school, and did learn read and write. Young masser had great many new books from England, and I did read all I could understand, for I had ver little else to do, and I learned great deal of English manner, especially of de delicate points of de love and de honour.

"When young masser left school, he did apply to business and the plantations. I did love him much, and it did grieve me to see dat he did love cruelty for cruelty's sake; and de poor negro was used worse and worse. So I did ask him why? He said, to make de dogs work. And I said, if you did use dem well as dogs dey would be great deal better of. He did look angry at me, and said, dogs were a superior species of animal to negroes, and had better understandings. Den I did look angry at him, and I did say, if God did give de white men more understanding, it was de tousand pities dey could not see how to make de better use of it. Den he did strike me down---den I vas getting up to kill him---but he did run off to the plantation house, I did know for what; to get de negro drivers to teach me better manners. I knew I could only be flead alive any place, so I ran off five miles, to de house where did live old masser; and I did tell him all. By and by did come young masser, and there was consultation, what to be done with such sad dog of negro.

"Many gentlemen dined at old masser's that day, and amongst the rest, my poor late masser Colerain; dis his first voyage. I was called in to take de trial. Young masser spoke warm; and did make great stur about my running after him to kill him, as he did verily believe; but he did no say much about de provocation.

"Den I vas bid speak; but I was sulky. I did only say, I vas tired of de life. Dis vas not a vorld for de poor negro; who vas knocked down for a word by the man whose life he saved, and who saw all his broders in worse state dan de dogs.

"Den I was ordered retire; and I did hear one gentleman say, dat such monstrous behaviour ought to have punishment little short of death. But I vas determined, if it vas possible, dat I would have de death first, and de punishment after.

"Dere vas in the house very pretty black negroe girl, dat I did love dearly. She was waiting at de table; and I stayed to take de sorrowful leave of her for ever and ever, before I did make myself die. She had been in de house nine years, waiting upon Miss'ress Benfield, who did use her kindly, and had her taught English; and when she could read, I did lend her many books dat my young masser did lend me. She did come presently out of de parlour and tell me, that every body did speak against me, and that masser Colerain did make dem all shamed of it---for he did say it was de blot upon all christian people---and dat he did hope to live to hear de question discussed by a British parliament ---and as the only ground dat could be taken for its defence was de paltry interest of trade, he was certain dat never would be attended to, against all de pleas of religion and humanity.

"I did hear noting that night of my destiny. Masser Colerain did stay till de next morning, when I was sent for into de parlour to dem; and dere I did find that Masser Colerain had bought me, out of pure pity; because he saw young masser was bitter against me, and dat he would always persecute me. I should have followed my new masser wid a grateful heart, only for my poor dear Flowney---so dey called my negress dat I did love.

"However I did go wid him same day to ship in Kingston harbour. He was de owner of it. He vas valking along de deck wid two oder gentlemen and vas de outermost. It did happen for de capstan rope to break, and one of de sailors was trown wid violence against one of de gentlemen, who pushed de next him, who pushed my new master into de bason. Dere was little swell, and nobody did venture to do any ting but fling a rope, and poor masser sunk many time, and never rose near it. Den I did jump in, and I did hold him bove water, as I did young Masser Benfield, till the boat came and took us bode in.

"It was soon to be seen dat de gratitude of Masser Colerain was quite another kind dan Masser Benfield. He did treat me so kindly, and when he did see me in sadness about poor Flowney, he did ask me de cause so kindly, I did tell him every thing. He did say he would try to buy Flowney, and she should go wid us into England. I did cry for joy; but I no cry long; for Masser told me Miss'ress Benfield would not part wid Flowney for any money. Den I did cry for sorrow.

"One day soon, masser said so kindly, you saved my life Benihango; I must make yours comfortable if I can. Tell me if you rader chuse to remain in Jamaica or go wid me to England. I did say, eider would kill me. If I did leave Jamaica I should die for Flowney; If I did stay, I should die for him.

"He did use to ask me many questions about de treatment of poor black men; and de tears did often run down his cheeks when I did tell him. Oh! how I did love him for dat. He did ask me if good usage would make de black people work well as bad. I did say yes---better a tousand times---for I felt so in my own heart. Den he said---would I engage for dis, if I had de management of one little plantation? I said---if it was his plantation I would engage, for dat love would quicken my duty. He said, it was probable I might be of singular use to de black people, if I could shew the planters dat it was deir interest to use deir negroes kindly. Dat he had partly prevailed upon his friend old Benfield to make de experiment, but dat he did not know how to go about it. So he proposed to lend him me for three years to superintend his smallest plantation, on dese conditions; dat I should be onder his own controul only, and his son's. Dat Flowney should be de reward of my service, togeder wid such furder recompence as Masser Benfield should tink I deserved.

"Dese conditions were accepted on both sides, and no sooner had my masser departed for England den I did enter upon my new occupation. Tank God! I did succeed better as my hopes. Dere was ver little sickness. My plantation was de forwardest; and I did spare four slaves for de order. De next year and de next it was extended; Masser Benfield did give me great tanks, and great promises. Dis tird year Masser Colerain was to come; and I was to receive my Flowney, and be baptised, and go to England and be so happy.

"But black man not born to be happy. Old Masser Benfield fell from his chair and died. Miss'ress Benfield did die a little before. Every body sorrow, cause every body was fraid of young Masser; for he had grown worse and worse. De slaves did hate and tremble. It was great comfort I was not his slave; but I did soon feel his malice.

"He did cast de eye of love---as he did call it---upon my poor Flowney; and as I have read of de Turkish bashaw, he did trow de handkerchief to her; for de poor black women tink it honour to be taken notice of by white man; especially masters. But Flowney read a great mush of her mistress books; and was christian; and tought it was great sin; and besides all dis, loved me dearly. So she refused to gratify Masser Benfield. So his dignity was insulted. So he did resolve to revenge it, and also take revenge upon me; for he did hate me vast much.

"His vallet de chamber, Stukely, was bad man, and dey say, had deserved de gallows in England. He was minister of his master's pleasures, and de corrupter of his manners. So one morning Masser Benfield ordered Stukely to get Flowney into his chamber; and dere he did ravish her. Yes, Sir George, he did ravish her, repeated Fidel, stalking along the room. And den---de good God have mercy upon his wicked soul---den---he gave her up to the lust of Stukely---and Stukely ravish her. Poor Flowney! She did make de lamentation over de house---and den---dis white christian man, de good God forgive him, ordered her to be publicly whipt---and Stukely did whip her till de blood did follow every stroke of de whip."

Sir George, at this part of the recital rose from his seat, and paced the room as Fidel had done before, who now was too much overcome to proceed, and had ran off to his chamber to indulge himself in private. That night, Sir George would not let him proceed in his tale.

So thought Sir George, without perceiving that the stimulus was found so far at least as to keep him in great mental agitation. It was not till the second evening, he became sufficiently composed to wish to hear the end of Fidel's

"Dis shameful ting," resumed Fidel, "was done upon a day when de governor gave public dinner; to which Masser Benfield did go. De moment he was gone, poor Flowney ran to the cottage of old negro woman, her friend, her confidant; where I had often met her of a Sunday evening, to spend in de endearments of love, de two hours dat Masser Benfield did den allow her. To dis old woman she told every ting; and she concluded wid--- "Tell Benihango all. It kill him to know, but it kill me first." So indeed she had resolved, for she went instantly and threw herself in a pond at de bottom of de garden.

"My plantation was five miles off, but de news soon came. I ran; and de first object I noticed was my dear Flowney on de bank of the pond, wid de old negress crying over her. She told me all. I did run mad. Masser Benfield was gone. Stukely was in de garden, nailing wall trees, widin sight of de pond, widin sight of de body, quiet as an honest man. I did go to de house. De slaves and de servants all melancholy. Dey did shake deir heads, and dey did cry poor Benihango. Dere was a room dey did call de gun-room. I went dere and brought two pair of pistols. I did load dem. Den I go to de garden, and I say to Stukely---you are de rascal, de villain, de murderer. See dere. I kill you; but I kill you wid honour. Take two pistols---choose. Stukely did tremble, and did say---it was my master. I did answer---villain, I know all: take, or me shoot you. Den he did take two pistols. I said---turn about---count ten steps backward. I do de same; den turn, and fire. I did turn to count my steps. Stukely did not turn. He fired his pistol. De bullet went trough my left arm. I did turn and shoot him dead.

"Den I did go to my poor Flowney; I did lie down by her; I did lay de loaded pistol by my side; for I did mean to live only an hour, dat I might indulge myself wid last looks, and last kisses. And I did say to her, whilst my warm lips did press her cold lips---my Flowney; if dere is heaven, it is for de poor negro, and for me, and for dee; dere is no Benfields dere; no Stukelys. De whip is deirs in dis world; it is ours in de next.

"Whilst I was lying by de side of my dear Flowney, dere was consultation in de house; for two white men of de servants did see all dat passed betwixt Stukely and me; and dey said, our master will kill Benihango with tortures. To save him, we must put him into de hands of justice. So dey agreed, and came silently and took me by de arms, and dey did cry, and did tell me deir intention. And I did point to de pistol, and I did say---if you be my friends, let me die here. Den dey told me---if I did kill myself, I should never go to heaven to Flowney. I did no tink so; but I was not in condition to reason; so dey took me to a justice of de peace, who did send me to prison.

"De first ting Masser Benfield did do when he came home, was to fall into de great rage, and kick every body, and discharge de two white servants for deir officiousness. He was fool dere. Dey were so much de more my friends. Dey spread de news; dey told de trute; for dey were white men, and durst speak trute. So my story flew. Every body did pity me; did detest Benfield. Before my trial did come on, my good masser Mr. Colerain arrived, and did come to comfort me in de prison. Dis was ver well; for Masser Benfield did offer mush moneys to de two white men to leave Jamaica and sail for France; and Massa Colerain did give dem mush to keep dem honest. So when my trial did come, I was acquitted; and de evidence of de rape of my poor Flowney was strong enough to induce many gentlemen at Kingston to enter into de subscription for de prosecution of Massa Benfield. But I did leave wid my Massa Colerain, before any ting did come of dat, and I did no hear more about it."

So ended the tale of Benihango.