As Zell and Hughes reach the end of their trip to Haiti and they find themselves low on money, Zell wakes up one morning extremely ill. The way Hughes describes the situation shows his true care for Zell as well as Zell's personality. The main rhetorical mode used here I would say is pathos as Hughes gets a little sentimental with his friend in such a weak state.
The morning that Zell wakes up extremely weak, Hughes is "frightened" as he asks if a doctor is necessary (35). The fact that he was not just nervous or mildly concerned shows the true connection these two men have made over their time travelling together and have really become excellent friends. Also, Hughes was willing to pay for the doctor, medicine, and extra night at the hotel in order to stay with his friend, despite the fact that "all of this unexpected expense meant that [they] would have scarcely twenty dollars left to get all the way from Havana to New York" (35). However, Hughes does not get worried or frustrated about the money but instead goes on to praise Zell, "a big husky young Negro," and reminisces over their times with the girls in Cap Haitien. Hughes describes Zell as "a solid, amiable, easygoing fellow" that sometimes got over excited in anger (36). This use of fond diction shows Hughes' care for Zell and how much their friendship means to him.
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