Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/165

 plow and hoe and raise cotton—to settle on Beni Yeb."

"Be not deceived," warned Lyttleton. "I suggest that you give them a place to camp until we can talk it over."

Cameron conveyed his salaams and salutations, then watched Kali delivering the message: "The Sheikh Tabira and his people will rest in the shade, beside flowing water. When the sheikh is refreshed, then will Cameron Effendi talk with him. May Allah lengthen the days of the sheikh."

All of which sounded mighty fine, but Zack didn't like the way in which these people continued to surround him, when Sheikh Tabira led his tribe to the left. As they came opposite the Colonel, Zack dodged between a couple of donkeys and broke out of line. Having side-stepped the whole Nigerine proposition, he scuttled over to the Colonel.

"Zack, what the devil were you doing out there with those folks?"

Old Reliable did not answer. A cry from the Nigerines drew all attention back to them. From mouth to mouth the cry went forward until it reached Tabira, who wheeled his camel and hurried back. His people disorganized into a rabble, and swarmed towards the whites. Zack melted against the Colonel's horse, and looked uneasily at his late associates.