Page:Rowland--The Mountain of Fears.djvu/81

 , who was standing near. His eyes were fairly bulging and his loose mouth agape.

Why have you those hats, Doctor?' he gasped, in astonishment.

" 'Trading stuff,' I answered. 'Do you think that the natives will like them?'

"' The natives! But they are far too good! They are beautiful hats, such as gentlemen wear in the United States, are they not?'

"I glanced at him curiously, and saw that he was looking at that hat as a starving man might look at a loaf of bread. Really, in spite of Meyers having given him what would be equal to a good high-school education, the man was simple as a savage, and he had never been away from the Orinoco.

You appear to admire them,' I answered, carelessly; 'perhaps you might like one yourself. They are light, and should be cool.'

His eyes glistened; he could hardly thank me, he was so pleased. I overhauled the lot until I found one that fitted him, and after [ 65 ]