Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/205

 of the hotel, and the wind immediately began to flirt with speckled streamers on his helmet. There was never a helmet so white, nor streamers so long and blue, with such a dancing of polka-dots upon them. Clothes may not wholly make a man, but Zack's new khaki suit had made a sight of Old Reliable.

"Huh! Got hitched up wrong," he mumbled, stopping on the piazza to tighten a belly-band and loosen the breeching. Then Zack lifted his head and shouted, "Whar he? Side!"

"Effendi—Excellency," Said emphasized his usual homage.

"Lissen to me, Side; us gwine travelin' to-day, and I got to buy a lot o' things from de sto'." Zack considered ponderously, and clinked the twenty gold coins in his pockets. "I needs a silk handkercher, an' a walkin' stick, an' er—er—er a seegar, an'"

"Excellency say he buy one camel," Said craftily suggested.

"Dar now! I liketer fergot dat camel. I can't be ridin' dese here runty little bosses no mo'."

"Excellency buy much donkeys"

"Suttinly, suttinly. Donkeys is heap better fer short rides."

"And robes of honor—which great ones wear"

"Co'se I got to have plenty good clo'es." Zack