Part 14 (1/2)

The Goanese called for the askari, half-soldier, half-police-man, who drowsed in meek solitude outside the office door

----------------Askari, soldier

”Relish, and then repeated it in Kiswahili

The askari eyed us, shi+fted his bare feet uncoe, tried to look stern, and said soue

”Put them out, I said!” said the Goanese

”He orders you to put us out!” grinned Fred

”The office closes at three,” said the Goanese, glancing at the clock in a half-hearted effort to

”Not unless the collector comes and closes it himself, it doesn't!”

Fred announced with folded arms

Will pulled out two rupees and offered the us some food,” he said ”We intend to stay in here until your bwana makubwa co overn it aside with the air of a Caesar declining a crown

”Gee!” exclaiot to hand it to the British if they train colored police to refuse money”

The askari, it seemed, was a man of more than one kind of discretion

Without another word to the Goanese he saluted the lot of us with a sweep of his ar in his hurry to put on the sandals that lay on the door-step We a questions at the Goanese, calculated to disturb what round for lawsuits

”How old are you?”--”Howhave you held your job?”--”Do you ever get drunk?”--”Are you married?”--”Does your wife love you?”--”Do you keep white mice?”--”Is your life insured?”--”How often have you been in jail?”--”Are you honest?”--”Are you vaccinated against the jianza?”

The h to try to anshen suddenly the collector cah the office into the inner room

”Fernandez!” he called as he passed, and the Goanese hurried after hiely relieved There was five minute's consultation behind the partition in tones too low for us to catch ain with a ”Noait and see,his pale

”He says you are to go in there,” he announced

So we filed in, Fred Oakes first, and it seemed to me the moment I saw the collector's face that the outlook was not so depressing He looked neither young nor inco nor too prominent His neck sat on his shoulders with the air of full responsibility, unsought but not refused And his eyes looked straight into those of each of us in turn with a frank challenge no honest fellow could resent

”Take seats, won't you,” he said ”Your names, please?”

We told him, and he wrote them down

”My clerk tells me you tried to bribe the askari You shouldn't do that We are at great pains to keep the police dependable It's too bad to put temptation in their way”

Will, with cold precision, told hihed