The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-07-20

rifles on board for one OF those little 7
ports up the coast. didn't know it"
Nor did L. said Kettle land you
can take it from me that we haven't
Smuggling rifles ashore is big offense
here in the Persian gulf, and I'm not
going to put myself in the way of the
law if l know it,"
"Well, l think you're wrong. sir,
said the mate. 81 believe they're in
some cases that are down on the mani
fest as machinery l saw them stow
ed down No. 3 hold, and l remember
one of the stevedores in London joking
about them when they were stuck be-
low
.'Supposing they We're rifles, what
then?"
Rad wants them. He says they're
consigned to some of his neighbors up
coast, who'll raid him as soon as
they're properly armed, and he doesn't
like the idea. What raiGing's done he
likes to do himself, and at the same
time he much prefers good Brum-
nagem rifles to the local ironmonger's
blunderbuSSeS."
"Well," said Kettle. I'm waiting to
hear what he thought you could do
with the rifles, supposing they We're on
board"
ooh, he expected me to breach cargo
and bring them here ashore to him.
He's simple minded savage
by James," said Kettle, "the mans
mad What did he think / should be
doing while one of my mates was
soothing cargo under my blessed nose:'
.'Ah, you see" said the foggy voice
with sly malice, che did not know you
so we'll then. sir. That was before he
had persuaded you to come into his
house to stay with him.
1t is probable that Captain Kettle
would have found occasion to make
acid comment on this repartee from his
inferior officer, but at that moment an
other voice addressed him from the
slit at the other side of his prison, and
he turned sharply round. To his sur
prise this new person spoke in very
tolerable English
"Cap'n, want to make contrack wild
you"
"The deuce you do. and who might
you be, anyway"
81 cullud gen'lem'n sar. Boon Fan
zibar. Used to be fireman on p. an ..
want arsk YOU
rs this the Arabian Nights? How
the mischief did you get here, any
way"
'Went on burst in Alden, sar. The
ole chief fired me out. Went Yemen.
Caught for slave. Taken caravan.
Brought here. But I'm very clever
genlemn. sar, an soon bought myself
free. Got slave of my own now an
three wives. Bought mother wife yes,
terday."
ooh, you beastw said Kettle.
"Sar, you insult me. Not bally Chris
tan any longer. Hard shell NOLAN
medan now. sar, an can marry as many
! I'm sure the prophets welcome tt
you. Look here, my man. Pass dow1
+ a ropes end from aloft there, and lei
? me get on deck, and I'll give you g
| sovereign cash down and a berth in
r my steamboats, stokehold if you want
) one. I'm not asking you to help me
more. guess I'm quite competent tc
find my own way on board and to wipe
this house tolerably clean before it's
, quit of me-"
, "Nothin of the kind. sar," said the
man behind the slit. You insult me,
sar. very big gen'lem'n here, sar,
an sovereign's no use to me. Be
sides, partner to ole man Rad, an he
say he want dem rifles you got on
your ole tramp"
docs he. indeed? Then you can
tell him, Mr.. Nigger-run-away-d drunken
fireman, that III see you and him in
somewhere big sight hotter than
Arabia before he gets them. l didn't
know they We're rifles. If had known
Ia not have planned to put them
ashore. but as things are now, I'll land
them into the hands of those that or
dered them, and | hope they come
around to this town of yours and give
you fits. And see here, you talk more
respectful about my steamboat or
you'll get your shins kicked, daddy"
AN ole tramp" said the man relish
ingly. Il served on P. an O., sar, an
on Z. an o. we don't care to 'sociate
wild tramps' sailors"
You impudent black cannibal. You'll
be one of the animals those passenger
lines carry along to eat the dead babies,
to save the trouble of heaving them
overheard"
The ex-fireman spluttered, but he did
not continue the contest. He recog-
nlzed that he had to deal with master
in the cheerful art of insult. and so he
came back sulkily to business.
"Will you give Rad dem rifles, you
low white fellow?''
No, won't, daddy"
Very we'll Den we shall spitiicate
you till you do" said the man, and aft
er that Kettle heard his slippers shut
fling away
Il wonder what spificating is?" mus
ed Kettle, but he did not remain cudgel-
ing his brain over this for long. 1t oc-
cured to him that if this negro could
come and go so handily to the outside
of Ia IL