Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/223

 Zack opened his gold to the sunlight, and to him. Said licked his dry lips and touched a sovereign with trembling fingers.

"Ten pounds."

"Ten o' dese?" Zack turned them over one by one.

"Yes, yes," answered Said. "Aiwah, aiwah," chorused Hamuda. The lust of gold having deafened their ears, none heard a rapid padding on the sands, nor suspected aught of peril, until a camel fell to his knees, and Achmet thrust his blazing face amongst them. Zack withdrew, and listened to their mutual vilifications. But nothing else happened, so he remarked disgustedly:

"Huh! You niggers talks mighty scrapageous fer de ittle bit o' fightin' what you does." Then he turned away to the camel, an ungainly creature which had always fascinated him. Never, not even in the circus, had he beheld such a vision of luxury and striped tassels. Zack's breath came fast. How those Vicksburg negroes would stare when he went riding past the Hot Cat Eating House!

"Here, Side! Shet up dat jay-bird jabber an' lissen to me. Dat gen'leman wouldn't sell dis here camel, you reckin'?"

Said rejoiced to be summoned from a wrangle which promised no gain. His master had put the