Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/105

 thought. Lykoff turned away from the hubbub, and looked bored.

Sergeant Danny was hurrying to his gasoline boat when Colonel Spottiswoode halted him, "Sergeant, oh, sergeant! One moment, please. That fool nigger is my servant; he's a first-cabin passenger."

The sergeant's face lighted, "That accounts for it; I had one too many."

"He belongs up here with me," the Colonel insisted.

"Then why was he hiding in the steerage?"

"Nobody knows about a negro. Can't you stop your boat and put him off?"

"Sorry, sir; he's been with those suspects, and I hardly know what to do with him. I'll send him to your hotel, sir, if you like."

"But I don't know where I'm going to stop."

The distance was fast widening between the barge and the ship; the gasoline tooted her whistle impatiently. "It's late, sir," apologized the sergeant; "and we've got all these people to fumigate. Here's my address. Send a carriage for your negro."

Zack kept waving his hat and shouting until the sergeant descended to the launch, and Colonel Spottiswoode went back into the cabin. "Luck's agin' me," moaned Zack as he collapsed