Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/193

 "No. He's a Baptist—or Methodist maybe."

"You don't mean to say he's a Christian?"

"Not enough Christian to hurt."

"Where did you get him?"

"Just picked him up."

"Where?"

"At home, rambling around. He's a faithful servant and knows my ways—that's why I brought him along."

"How is it he has his own servant—and"

In spite of General Durham's seriousness the American could not restrain a laugh. "Zack has a servant, yes; I hired Said to keep Zack out of trouble."

"To keep him out of trouble?"

"Yes; he's such a fool that I was afraid he might get hurt."

Durham paced up and down the room, unconvinced. "Now he's getting us into trouble. I don't like that affair at Beni Yeb. There's a madness in this Sudan sun that addles the brains of men. Two of Tabira's Nigerines have followed him to Khartum. Do you know what that means? I do. No doubt they were in the crowd at Omdurman, spreading news amongst the people. Suppose your negro should take it into his head to start a row? There'll be plenty of fanatics to hail him as a prophet."

Colonel Spottiswoode laughed outright, then