{"id":"01KG8AKWPSNCCQV2Z30A58XR76","cid":"bafkreidczm2zkhhtyqikmw5jzdx6g6nqwteyrfneniiuiaoe5hjgekxc7a","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":4286,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.023Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 21","source_file":"01KG89J1F4D8P9BBX9AMGZ7TX7","start_line":4218,"text":"his back, and then stood behind, not his master’s chair, but Captain\r\nDelano’s. At first, this a little surprised the latter. But it was soon\r\nevident that, in taking his position, the black was still true to his\r\nmaster; since by facing him he could the more readily anticipate his\r\nslightest want.\r\n\r\n“This is an uncommonly intelligent fellow of yours, Don Benito,”\r\nwhispered Captain Delano across the table.\r\n\r\n“You say true, Señor.”\r\n\r\nDuring the repast, the guest again reverted to parts of Don Benito’s\r\nstory, begging further particulars here and there. He inquired how it\r\nwas that the scurvy and fever should have committed such wholesale\r\nhavoc upon the whites, while destroying less than half of the blacks.\r\nAs if this question reproduced the whole scene of plague before the\r\nSpaniard’s eyes, miserably reminding him of his solitude in a cabin\r\nwhere before he had had so many friends and officers round him, his\r\nhand shook, his face became hueless, broken words escaped; but directly\r\nthe sane memory of the past seemed replaced by insane terrors of the\r\npresent. With starting eyes he stared before him at vacancy. For\r\nnothing was to be seen but the hand of his servant pushing the Canary\r\nover towards him. At length a few sips served partially to restore him.\r\nHe made random reference to the different constitution of races,\r\nenabling one to offer more resistance to certain maladies than another.\r\nThe thought was new to his companion.\r\n\r\nPresently Captain Delano, intending to say something to his host\r\nconcerning the pecuniary part of the business he had undertaken for\r\nhim, especially—since he was strictly accountable to his owners—with\r\nreference to the new suit of sails, and other things of that sort; and\r\nnaturally preferring to conduct such affairs in private, was desirous\r\nthat the servant should withdraw; imagining that Don Benito for a few\r\nminutes could dispense with his attendance. He, however, waited awhile;\r\nthinking that, as the conversation proceeded, Don Benito, without being\r\nprompted, would perceive the propriety of the step.\r\n\r\nBut it was otherwise. At last catching his host’s eye, Captain Delano,\r\nwith a slight backward gesture of his thumb, whispered, “Don Benito,\r\npardon me, but there is an interference with the full expression of\r\nwhat I have to say to you.”\r\n\r\nUpon this the Spaniard changed countenance; which was imputed to his\r\nresenting the hint, as in some way a reflection upon his servant. After\r\na moment’s pause, he assured his guest that the black’s remaining with\r\nthem could be of no disservice; because since losing his officers he\r\nhad made Babo (whose original office, it now appeared, had been captain\r\nof the slaves) not only his constant attendant and companion, but in\r\nall things his confidant.\r\n\r\nAfter this, nothing more could be said; though, indeed, Captain Delano\r\ncould hardly avoid some little tinge of irritation upon being left\r\nungratified in so inconsiderable a wish, by one, too, for whom he\r\nintended such solid services. But it is only his querulousness, thought\r\nhe; and so filling his glass he proceeded to business.\r\n\r\nThe price of the sails and other matters was fixed upon. But while this\r\nwas being done, the American observed that, though his original offer\r\nof assistance had been hailed with hectic animation, yet now when it\r\nwas reduced to a business transaction, indifference and apathy were\r\nbetrayed. Don Benito, in fact, appeared to submit to hearing the\r\ndetails more out of regard to common propriety, than from any\r\nimpression that weighty benefit to himself and his voyage was involved.\r\n\r\nSoon, his manner became still more reserved. The effort was vain to\r\nseek to draw him into social talk. Gnawed by his splenetic mood, he sat\r\ntwitching his beard, while to little purpose the hand of his servant,\r\nmute as that on the wall, slowly pushed over the Canary.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 21"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AK2X9P0E5X4X6Z77F9M13","peer_type":"intro","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1F4D8P9BBX9AMGZ7TX7","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKWPSSSQFKGD8SR06JZB7","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AKWPSB425J9Z4JTMVAQ0P","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:19.161Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:26.224Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}