Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/348

 stiffening out of Old Reliable's backbone until his dictatorial voice became conciliatory. "Side, you an' me is been good friends. You ain't gwine to rig up no sech tale on me as dat?"

Victory lay so deep in the Dongalawi's eyes that no ripple of its elation disturbed their surface. Gently he led the wilted Effendi back to his seat upon the bench. Again Said crouched at the other's feet, and again Said scooped a hole in the sand. "Excellency, put money—there—walk off."

"Side, you done out-talked me 'bout dis here money."

So Zack performed at the crack of the whip, dropped his sovereigns in the hole and walked.

"May Allah accept your doings. You have placed Said's heart at peace." Saying which the Dongalawi hid the gold within his girdle.

When Zack had shuffled as far as the last palm tree, he wheeled and fired back a retort, "You needn't ack so biggety. I wouldn't give you nary cent 'thout I wanted to. Money ain't nothin' to me. I spends a heap more'n dat, ev'y day o' de worl', on ginger snaps and sardines."

As Said made no answer Zack ventured to return a part of the way, yet still maintaining a prudent distance: "I ain't gwine to leave you here neither; you's entirely too handy wid fire. Fust