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UMERSINDO'S automobile turned out to be one of those cheap American machines which one finds everywhere. Its only peculiarity was an extra gasolene-tank which filled the greater part of the body of the car, and which must have given the old rattletrap a cruisingradius of a thousand or fifteen hundred miles.

Just as the negro and the white man were getting into the car the man with the knot of hair at the back of his head strolled into the garage. He called to Gumersindo that the Americano was to take him on the expedition which was just starting.

The black editor looked up and stared.

“Take you!”

“Sí, señor, me. This caballero—” he nodded at Strawbridge—“promised to take me along for the courtesy of directing him to… well… to a certain address.”

Strawbridge heard this with the surprise an American always feels when a Latin street-runner begins manufacturing charges for his service.

“The devil I did! I said nothing about taking you along. I didn't know where I was going. I still don't know.”

“Caramba!” The man with the hair spread his hands in amazement. “Did I not say we would go to the same address, and did not you agree to it!”

“But, you damn fool, you know I meant the address here in Caracas! Good Lord! you know I did n't propose to take you a thousand miles!”

The man with the hair made a strong gesture.