Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/225

 plum around a nigger's leg and bite out a chunk. Zack jerked his legs away.

"Wait, mister, wait! I wants to git down."

But it was too late to get down; Achmet would not hear, and the angels were far away.

"Gawd A'mighty! He's gittin' up."

Said ran in front and bent his body forward, almost double, indicating how Zack should ride.

"Sit so," Said shouted, but Zack got rattled and didn't understand; and he got worse rattled before that camel finished the process of getting up. The camel rose simultaneously, but in disconnected sections, like the folding and unfolding of a jointed rule. His front legs stiffened, which threw Zack violently backward. Then the creature elevated suddenly from his rear and Zack lunged forward until the saddle-peg punched his stomach. With four legs sprawling, the great beast swayed from side to side, while Zack clung to his saddle-peg and dropped the halter.

It might have been the scream of a whistle from the gun-boat that frightened the camel; maybe it was Zack, who clawed and clutched like a kitten on a colt's back. By some mischance the camel escaped from Achmet, whirled, and started up the street. His first get-away was somewhat tentative, but no Achmet held the halter, and that clinging creature upon his back was worse than scared. Then he moved like a camel who knew