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 palavering to pacify their uproar when a jewel per was not also forthcoming.

"Shet up, you niggers! Hommit, tell' em I'll give ev'y one o' my reg'lar customers a button on Saddy night. Tell 'em dat—quick."

Mahomet lifted his voice to Agha, and Agha secured a hearing. The Shilluks listened sullenly, as Said the Deceitful had spoken naught of this. They crowded around Kudit, and felt his prize. Of a verity it was genuine. "Ev'y one o' my reg'lar customers gits a badge like dat on Saddy night. Reg'lar customers, mind you—got to buy catfish ev'y day 'twixt now an' den. Tell 'em dat, Hommit."

By this time Zack had got yard-broke to Arab shrills and trebles, so he did not mind what Mahomet was saying to Agha. Agha balked and shook his head; and Mahomet appealed to Zack. "Agha say he no tell 'em dat. Agha feared. Maybe if Black Effendi no give peoples jewels, peoples kill Agha for big lie."

"Shucks! dat's all right, I'm 'sponsible. It's a cinch—a lead pipe cinch. Tell 'em dat, Hommit."

Via Mahomet and Agha, the Black Effendi dispatched his assurances of a lead-pipe cinch, which touched off another disputation. The natives listened eagerly. Agha found himself the storm center of a mob. Agha explained; Agha grew