me in ancient Greek."

"Which he will not do," said the captain, laughing. "He will say very
little, and what he does say will consist of the most curious jumble of
English that ever man gave utterance to. So will you trust me to make
terms with him as to what he is to do and what he is to be paid? I
purpose offering him the same terms as were given to him by his last
employers. He wants very little--and no current coin. A good knife or
two and some brass rings will satisfy him. And as to his work that he
is to do for you, I tell you frankly that he will not do a stroke, but
he will tramp with you upon hunting expeditions till he will tire you
out; he will be as keen-scented as a dog, a splendid tracker of every
kind of wild beast, and if needs be he will fight for you bravely to the
death."

"Well, you couldn't give him a better character," said the doctor, "for
our purpose. But what bad qualities have you to put against this?"

"Oh, he is a very wolf at eating."

"Well, it's only fair that he should be," said Mark, "if he hunts for
and finds the meat."

"I quite agree with you," said the captain. "Then let me see; I did
tell you that he won't do a stroke of work. He is too great a swell--
for he really is a chief, and was beaten by a stronger party and had to
retreat for his life."

"But I say," said Mark, "how are we going to get on with him if he is
going to carry on in that stuck-up, haughty way?"

"Oh, that's nothing," said the captain, laughing. "He puts that on when
he comes into camp, to show his contempt for my men. A few of the larky
spirits teased him a bit some time ago, and he wouldn't stand it. But I
have seen a good deal of him, and he likes me because I wigged the men
and gave them to understand before him that I would have none of that
nonsense. Why, when he is away out in the forest or veldt with a
hunting party--and people treat him well--he is like a merry boy, a
regular child of nature. But treat him with contempt, and it raises his
bile directly. We are too fond of treating these natives as niggers,
but some of them are fine fellows, and as brave as lions--Pooh!
Nonsense! As brave as men can be. Yes," he continued, as an orderly
appeared, "send in Mak."

The fine-looking black stepped in, to stand in dignified silence,
looking keenly round at the party, while the captain spoke to him in
broken English which sounded somewhat like that of a weak old nurse
prattling to a c