Page:The land of fetish.pdf/117

 I suffered myself to be persuaded and went away to have lunch with the Commandant. During the meal I said what a pity it was I could not get some of those arrows and spear-heads out of the inclosure. He seemed surprised and asked:

"What is there to prevent you?"

"Why, the natives would make a row."

"They? Why they wouldn't care if you carted the whole lot out."

I thought I had been hearing rather contradictory evidence, so I told him about my interview with the Christian negro who had hindered me from committing sacrilege. He listened with great attention, and finally asked:

"Was this man tall?"

"Yes."

"Was he fat?"

"Yes."

"Was he very ugly?"

"Yes."

"Had he got a strawberry ? No, I don't mean that. Had he lost some of his front teeth?"

"Yes."

Then the Commandant heaved a sigh of relief, and sent for a sergeant of police. When that myrmidon arrived he told him that he thought that