Off To See The Wild West Show Part 1, Chapter 19 (2/3) By Frank Beill 1886: Hull, Yorkshire

(1/3), (2/3), (3/3). Part 1 Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Part 2 Prologue, Chapter 1, 2, 3.

Despite getting Buffalo Bill's seal of approval little really changed except for the presence of Miss Arta. She always seemed to be visible whenever I left the quarters set aside for the Lakota. She was ready to intervene whenever anyone outside the circle of those 'in the know' threatened to come into contact with me. 'How come you were in an orphanage in Hull, of all places?' Miss Arta asked during one of the few moments when we could speak freely. I was on deck tending the ponies with Laughing Waters. 'Hull's where I was born, Miss Arta.'

I shrugged and shovelled more steaming horse droppings into a bucket. Funny how I didn't mind this task anymore. I hated doing it when Jolly Rodgers sent me out into the Hull streets to gather it for the orphanage garden.

'How come?' She was still puzzled. 'My father met my mother there when he came from Africa.' 'Africa! Ain't no Indians in Africa!' 'Father came from there. Cape Town he said ... wherever that is. He was an orphan too!' I stopped shovelling for a moment and leaned on the spade.

'Well, lordy!' She scratched her head in disbelief.

I told her about his shipwreck and how he must have swum ashore. I'd still not given up hope. 'Well, the United States is a mighty big place to try an' find somebody.' She bit her lip and paused for a moment. 'Maybe he'll come to see one of our shows. Reckon everybody will come sooner or later.' I nodded in agreement, not realising she was only trying to be pleasant. Discovering the sheer enormity of everything about the United States still awaited me. 'Anyways, you'd better get finished tendin' these critters. I reckon there's a storm brewin'.'

She looked towards the distant horizon. There really were dark clouds ahead of us now. ***

Continued... Next Page (3/3)

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