In his brain
was born a scheme whereby the heavy mantle of leadership, including the
ponderous pyramid of financial obligations, might be shifted to the
Wildcat's shoulders. He got up from his throne at the paytable and
plowed his way toward the Wildcat. He held out the hand of fellowship.
"Wilecat, how is you? How is de Worshupful Potentate f'm de distant
lan'?"

"Honey Tone! Honey Tone Boone! How come you heah?"

Honey Tone took the Wildcat by the arm. "Brothehs, in de humble yaller
raiment of a plain nigger de long-looked-fo' Barzil Leadeh has come to
'scort you all to de promis' lan'."

He half dragged the Wildcat to a little room opening off the larger
hall, and thereafter for five minutes Honey Tone used some private
eloquence on his old-time acquaintance. The Soopreem Leader took pains
to omit the detail covering the four-thousand-dollar obligation that
went with the job. Finally the Wildcat weakened. "Sho' sounds noble,
Honey Tone. Tell me de res'."

"You is de head boss ob de New Worl' Af'ican Colony, an' weahs de
robes," Honey Tone concluded. "You is Temp'rary Soopreem Leadeh ob de
Temple whilst I 'tends to some private business a sho't ways out ob
town. When de Barzil Colony is runnin' you gits de job ob Soopreem
King. All you does now is keep yo' mouth shut an' look soopreem. Dis
steamboatin' you says you is 'gaged in comes in handy. You tells de
membehs at de propeh time dat you is loadin' de boat fo' de Barzil
Colony."

Honey Tone left his convert and prepared the way for the transition
with the assembled audience.

Half way through his discourse he was interrupted by Trombone Pike, who
craved to get his hundred dollars before the flight of Honey Tone's
imagination lifted the soopreem one above paltry things like financial
obligations. Honey Tone paid him with three quick movements--a dig for
the roll, an outstretching of a handful of cash, and the grip of
eternal brotherhood. "'At's dat. Dah you is."

Meanwhile the Wildcat's languid brain had stumbled over an idea as big
as a church. "Ah leads de brethren to de dock--an' gits twenty dollahs
fo' every man!" When Honey Tone returned, the Wildcat eagerly succumbed
to the role imposed on him. "Sho' kin, Honey Tone. Sho' glad to be
Temp'rary Soopreem Leadeh. Ah learns dese brethren de steamboat
bizness. Sho' glad to show 'em all I knows an' git 'em stahted."

"Wait heah till I 'suades 'em to let you handle everything." Honey Tone
left the Wildcat a