Part 4 (2/2)

”Can you cook?” Fred answered guardedly

”Yes, sah Was cook foro with him on expedition Later his boy Later his headood cook Where you want to go?”

”Are you looking for a job?” asked Fred

”What you after? Ivory?”

”Maybe”

”I know all about ivory--I shoot, trade ivory along o' Tippoo Tib an'

Stanley You engage my services, all very well”

”Go and tell Tippoo Tib ant to see him If he confirms what you say, perhaps we'll take you on,” said Fred

”Tell Tippoo Tib? Ha-ha! You want to find his buried ivory--that it?

All white ain!”

”Come back here, you fat rascal!” ordered Fred ”What do you mean about buried ivory? What buried ivory?”

Hassan's face lost some of its transcendent cheek Even the dyed beard see?” he asked ”Hunt, trade, travel--what your business?”

”Fish!+” Fred answered genially

”Sa no experience of Arabs, and part-Arabs, I wondered what on earth Fred could be driving at But Hassan wondered stillfroood-natured face an interrogation o an' tell bwana Tippoo Tib!” he announced, and departed swiftly

”What's the idea of fish, Fred?” I asked

”Oh, just curiosity The way of getting inforet them so frantically curious they've no ti unexpected A bird flying, and a black ,--are both of 'em easy to catch or confuse unless they knohich way they're heading Let's go and look at the bazaar”

But in order to look one had to reach We left the great heavy-beamed hotel that had once been Tippoo Tib's residence, but were stopped in the outer doorway by a crowd of native boys, each with a brass plate on his arm

”Guide, sah!--Guide, sah!--My name 'McPhairson, sah!--My nahts, sah!”

They were as persistent and evilly intentioned as a swarh to strike back when anybody kicked them While restled and swore, but made no headere accosted by a Greek, who seeh the struck We were not left in doubt another second as to whether our friend Hassan had dallied on the way, and held his tongue or not

”Good day, gentleood story to tell to Arabs! Youfor information, eh? Ha-hah!”

He turned on the swars