e--brutes who don't
understand how to be anything else, with brutal low cunning and no
other cleverness."

"That sounds like the joker!" said Fred.

"It's ace number two, I tell you! The third is the fact that Brown of
Lumbwa can talk with Kazimoto in the night through that corrugated iron
partition! Three aces--count 'em--one, two, three! Queens? One of
'em left a few minutes ago! The other's the dhow! We'll call that
blessed boat the Queen of Sheba for luck! The Queen of Sheba got to
her journey's end, and found more than she expected, and by the lights
of little old Broadway, so shall we! I've dealt the cards--is it up to
me to play them?"

"Your hand, America! Talk it over first, though! There's an awful lot
hangs on the game!" said Fred.

I fell asleep while they argued over the points of Will's strategy.
Africa is a land of sudden death and swift recoveries, but for a
convalescent man I had been through a strenuous day and had right to be
tired out. It was broad daylight when I awoke, and breakfast was
ready. Fred and Will had returned from their march around the township
with the native band, and to my surprise the commandant was standing in
front of their tent, talking with them. I threw on a jacket and joined
them at table.

"I don't understand you," said the commandant. "Either talk German or
speak more slowly!"

Will took a purchase on his stock of patience and began again.

"If our porters run away, you'll blame us. We don't care to be blamed
for what is none of our fault. So if you don't put 'em all on a chain
and lock 'em up nights, we're going to discontinue paying for their
keep. That's flat! You can work 'em if you like. Let 'em help keep
the township clean. We'll pay their board and wages as long as you're
responsible for their not escaping! And say! If you want to get real
work out of 'em I'll give you a tip. There never was a savage like
that Kazimoto of ours for getting results out of that gang. Put him on
the same chain with the lot of 'em, and we'll all be satisfied! I
don't presume to be running your jail, but I'm telling you facts
that'll hurt nobody. Those porters 'ud be a darn sight better off with
plenty of exercise."

"Do I understand you to ask that your porters be made prisoners?" asked
the commandant.

"You get me exactly!" said Will.

The commandant grunted, nodded, waited for us to get up and salute him,
grunted again with disgust when we did not