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 hundred dollars"—Zack stopped short when the Arab stood before him man to man, desperately upright, no longer a cringing slave, and there was a menace in the sheen of Said Wad Darho's eyes which compelled Zack to listen. Placing his lips close to the other's ear, Said whispered maliciously, "Effendi lose his hat which he wear by night."

"Dat's so. I dunno what is come o' dat little ole blue hat."

"One friend of Said Wad Darho find Effendi's hat beside gin factory. Friend of Said be kind to conceal Effendi's hat. If friend of Said be angry, he go tell El Bimb McDonald."

Zack gasped. Previously he might have been talking to hear his tongue rattle; now he could keep quiet and hear his teeth rattle. "What you mean, Side? I never lef no hat at no gin. I warn't nowhar's nigh dat gin when it cotch fire."

Craftily Said spread his palms apart and smiled, "Allah he knows." Then Said talked, talked rapidly with a low shrill-and-hiss of the excited, yet cautious, Arab. "El Bimb McDonald remember Effendi say gin factory must burn. El Bimb and Engleezi Lyttleton talk much angry each with other, say Black Effendi set fire to gin. They tell it not, because Excellency Spotwood he sorry. Excellency Spotwood much Great One."

It took very little of this talk to limber the