The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-05

what I've heard. He's a merchant in
every line that comes handy, from slaves
and palm fiber, 20 horses and dates; he
runs most of those pearhng dhows that
we saw sweltering about at thS anchor
age; and he's got a little army of his
own, with which he raids the other coast
towns and the caravans up-country when
he hears they've got any truck worth loot
Ing. 1 say, this is soaring. I've been
taking things pretty easily up to now.
thinking it would all come right in time.
But if I'd known it was old Rad who
had grabbed me, tell you ! should have
sat sweating
at takes a lot more than a mere mig
ser with his head in elouts to scare me-
said Kettle, truculentlys and 1 don't care
tuppence what he may be by trade. He's
got down on me at present, IN grant,
but I'm going to give Mr.. Rad ell Nous
sa fits a little later on, and you may stand
by and look on if you aren't frightened
to be near him..
I'm not a funk in the Open" grumbied
Murray and you know it. You've seen
me handle crew. But I'm in a kind OF
cellar her and can't get out, and if any,
body chooses, they can drop bricks on me
and 1 can't stop them. Have they been
at you about those rifles, sir?'
what rifles? No nobody's said rifles
10 me ashore mere.
"It seems we've got some cases of rifles
on board for one of those little ports UP
the coast. didn't know it,"
Nor did T." said Kettle, land you can
take it from me that we haven't Snug
CLING rifles ashore is a big offense here in
the Persian gulf, and I'm not going 10
put myself in the way of the law, if 1
know It,"
WELL think you're wrong, SIR" said
the mate. Il believe they re in some cases
that are down on the manifest as 'machin-
cry I saw them slowed down No. hold,
and remember one of the stevedores in
London joking about them when they were
stuck below.
"supposing they were rifles, what
then?"
Rad wants them. He says they're con-
signed 10 some of his neighbors up coast
who'll raid him as soon as they're prop
erly armed, and he doesn't like the idea.
What raiding's done he likes TO do him
self, and at the same time he much pre-
fers good Brummagem rifles to the local
ironmongers' blunder-busses."
"Well," said Kettle, Pm waiting to hear
what he thought you could do with the
rifles, supposing they were on board"
20, he expected me to breach cargo and
bring them here ashore to him. He's a
simple-mnded savage"
by James," said Kettle, 1.-THE mans
mad What did he think l should be doing
while one Of my mates was scof1ng cargo
under my blessed nose?"
"Ah, you see" said the foggy voice with
sly malice "he did not know you so well
then, sir, That was before he had persuad-
ed you TO come into his house to stay with
him."
1t is probable that Capt. Kettle would
have found occasion to make acid COM
Enent on this repaTtee from his inferior Of
icer, but that that moment another voice
addressed him from the slit at the other
side of his prison, and he returned sharply
round. To his surprise this new person
spoke in very toerable English.
"Cap'n, l want t. make contrack wild
you"
THE deuce you do. And-Bho might you
be, anyway
II cullud gen'lem'n, sar Boon Zanzibar.
Used to be fisherman on z. an O. l want
arsk you"
rs this the Arabian Nights? How the
mischief did you get here. anyway
Went on burst in Alden, sar. TIL ole
chief fired me out. Went Yemen. Caught
for slave. Taken caravan. Brought here.
But I'm very clever gen'lem'n, sar, an
soon bought myself free. Got slave of my
own An three wives. Bought mother wife
yesterday"
you nasty beastg' said Kettle.
"sar you insult me. MOI bany Christian
any longer. Hard-shell Mahometan now,
sar. and can marry as many wives as I
can buy"
I'm sure the prophets welcome to you.
Look here, my man. Pass down a ropes
end from aloft there, and let me get on
deck and I'll give you sovereign, cash
down. and a berth in my steamboats,
stokehold If you want one. I'm not ask
ing you to help me more. l guess I'm
quite competent to find my own way on
board and to wipe this house tolerably
clean before it's quit of me-"
"Nothing of the kind, sar," said the
man behind the slit. You insult me, sar.
T very big een'lem'n here, sar, an SOW
ereien's no use to me Besides 1 partner
IN ole man Rad, an he say he want dem
rifles YOU got on your ole tramp"
"Does he. indeed? Then you can tell
him Mr. Nigger-run-away drunken-hre-
man. that I'll see you and him In some
where a big sight hotter than Arabia be-
fore he gets them. l didn't know they
we're rifles: If / had known before this
IA MT have put them ashore; but as
tbirgs are now, TH land them into the
sJaAs ~ those that ordered them, and /
800 thew come round 10 this town OF
,,orrs and give you fits. And see here,
Won talk more respectful about my steam
boat or youn get your shlns KICKED
''' IAN ole tramp" said the man relishing-
ly. Il served on P. an o., sar 9 an ,u on =;
an @. we don't care 'soclate VIII 'rainp'
s1 You impudent black cannlbal. You'll
be one of the animals those Sod passenger Sehss
lines carry along to eat the dead napies'
80 rs save The trouble of heavins them over
board ,....oa rent be dld
~, continue the contest He recognized
VA ig he had TO deal with master IN the
cbeerful art Of insult. and so ne came
Saol, sulIilv to business.
oa a,I1ui Won give Rad dem rifles. you low
".iiNSo. I won't, Daddy sinkpotc;"
..verv well. Den we shall spiheate you
go, 80 40 said the man, and after that
Tetfle heard his slippers shutting away
~ wonder what spihicating ISL, mused
t<ettIe but he did not remain cudgeiing
bis brain over this for long. It occurred
80 him that If this negro could come and
10. n