Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/340

 "Git up, Cunnel! Git up! Ev'ything's afire!"

"The gin! The gin!" Lyttleton shouted back as he ran. Colonel Spottiswoode and McDonald immediately followed Lyttleton across the open space, toward the unpainted corrugated iron building. McDonald had gained Lyttleton' s side while Zack and the Colonel ran behind.

"Harak! Harak!" shrieked the Arab watchman to Mahomet Mansour. Not understanding Arabic, Colonel Spottiswoode did not know why both the Britishers turned and looked accusingly at Zack, for "Harak" in Arabic means "he burned," and that's what the watchman was saying. Zack darted ahead, puffing, excited and shouting, "Gin's done gone. Whole inside's in a light blaze."

Swarms of Shilluks came tumbling from their tukuls, jabbering and screaming. Some of them trembled at what their king might do, others exulted when the whites were not looking.

The gin being isolated, there was no danger to other buildings. "We can put it out," panted the Colonel, and men were sent running to the river. Zack grabbed the first bucket—"Here, Side, take dis bucket an' run—run!" Whilst returning with his water, Said fell and spilled it.

Yet they formed a bucket line and worked like mad, putting out the fire which had gained little headway before being discovered.