Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/245

 would cast no aspersions upon his own usefulness. "You no can buy," he protested; "this donkey is of the Sultan."

"Sulky nothin! All donkeys is mo' or less quiet. Dey loves to study."

"No-no, la, la; he is of the Sultan—you no can buy la, la!"

"He ain't sulky; he's gentle an' kind. I'm gwine to buy dis donkey ef I wants to. I got plenty money."

Suddenly Top-Knot rose and towered above them; he gripped Said by the arm, spoke guttural words and pointed. Said wheeled, gazed, snatched Zack's sleeve, and began pulling his master away—'Come, Excellency, come!"

"What fer?"

"The Sultan, he come—he not glad if you be here."

Self-respect demanded a certain show of resistance. "Look here, nigger! I ain't got my mind sot on no runnin'—not yit." And yet, despite all protests, Said and Top-Knot hustled the Black Effendi out of sight, behind the wood-pile. Then Top-Knot ran back to his post, while Zack peeped around the wood, and saw Top-Knot on his knees butting his head against the planks before the Sultan.

"Huh! He ain't nothin' 'cept a kinky-headed nigger, an' bare-footed at dat! Side, what make