Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/311

 spoken copiously with Tombi, that he must caution his people to spend no money upon their bellies. They must have piasters—and hold the silence of Allah upon their tongues—for he, Said, could procure for each a jewel like unto the king's. When the people heard that, they chattered mightily, questioning Tombi, and Tombi spread the news. Old Reliable cocked his head to one side and listened to the hullabaloo, wondering why no Shilluk came to buy his fish.

"Look here, Side," he questioned, "dem niggers ain't studyin' 'bout hot cat. What is dat Tombi nigger tellin em?"

"He say much people not work to-day; work to-morrow. Buy great plenty fishes."

"All right den; you be sho to ketch plenty in de mornin'."

Having made a successful function of his free lunch to the king, Zack now strolled towards the white folks' quarters for approbation, with Said dogging his heels.

Deadly fear clutched at the Dongalawi's throat, and he planned with cunning. Discretion forbade him to steal and sell the jewels one by one, for the Shilluks would wear them, and the Black Effendi must discover. No, Said would gather the people, sell all at once, and vanish. The desert would shelter him. So that this happy fate might come to pass, Said admitted Tombi and