Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/298

 the door. Naked and brown, Said leaped across it, like the flitting of a bat, and darkness swallowed him. Old Reliable hurried on, intent upon his affair, while Said slunk behind, close enough to hear him mumble, as a man of stricken conscience mutters in his sleep. Once the Black Effendi jostled against a palm, and again Said caught the pleasant jingle of metal, a clink that put his teeth on edge and set every nerve to quivering.

"He goeth to secrete his treasure" Said almost spoke the words aloud, then looked over his shoulder, lest some eavesdropper might hear. Had not the Black Effendi amassed great treasure in this traffic of the fishes, for which he, Said, cast nets amongst the crocodiles? Said had almost gone mad coveting that flow of money which poured into the Black Effendi's hands, until his pockets bulged with piasters. True, the money flowed not so prodigally whilst the negroes had hippo flesh to feed upon. Shilluks and Dinkas lay beside those carcasses, like gorged dogs, and went not to the fields at all. Even after the hippo meat had long been devoured, the catfish customers came back slowly, not more than ten a day. Said knew these things for a certainty, having eyes to see and wit to remember. As he trailed the Black Effendi and the clink of the treasure, Said considered; his head went whirling, yet his nimble feet made no sound upon the sands.