Black Ivory | Page 5

the
elephant--hims tusk; Black Ivory do come,"--he smiled slightly at this
point--"from the land everywheres. It bees our chef artikil of trade."
"Indeed! I never heard of it before."
"No?" replied the trader; "you shall see it much here. But I go talk with
my mans. Wait."
Saying this, in a tone which savoured somewhat unpleasantly of
command, the Arab went towards a small hut near to which his men
were standing, and entered into conversation with them.
It was evident that they were ill pleased with what he said at first for

there was a good deal of remonstrance in their tones, while they pointed
frequently in a certain direction which seemed to indicate the coast-line;
but by degrees their tones changed, and they laughed and chuckled a
good deal, as if greatly tickled by the speech of the Arab, who, however,
maintained a look of dignified gravity all the time.
"I don't like the looks o' them fellers," remarked Disco, after observing
them in silence for some time. "They're a cut-throat set, I'm quite sure,
an' if you'll take my advice, Mister Seadrift, we'll give 'em the slip, an'
try to hunt up one o' the native villages. I shouldn't wonder, now, if that
chap was a slave-trader."
"The same idea has occurred to myself, Disco," replied Harold, "and I
would willingly leave him if I thought there was a town or village
within twenty miles of us; but we are ignorant on that point and I have
heard enough of the African climate to believe that it might cost us our
lives if we were obliged to spend a night in the jungle without fire, food,
or covering, and with nothing on but a wet flannel shirt and pair of
canvas breeches. No, no, lad, we must not risk it. Besides, although
some Arabs are slave-traders, it does not follow that all are. This fellow
may turn out better than he looks."
Disco Lillihammer experienced some sensations of surprise on hearing
his young friend's remarks on the climate, for he knew nothing
whatever about that of Africa, having sailed chiefly in the Arctic Seas
as a whaler,--and laboured under the delusion that no climate under the
sun could in any degree affect his hardy and well-seasoned frame. He
was too respectful, however, to let his thoughts be known.
Meanwhile the Arab returned.
"I sail this night," he said, "when moon go down. That not far before
midnight. You mus keep by boat here--close. If you go this way or that
the niggers kill you. They not come here; they know I is here. I go look
after my goods and chattels--my Black Ivory."
"Mayn't we go with 'ee, mister--what's your name?"

"My name?--Yoosoof," replied the Arab, in a tone and with a look
which were meant to command respect.
"Well, Mister Yoosoof," continued Disco, "if we may make bold to ax
leave for to go with 'ee, we could lend 'ee a helpin' hand, d'ye see, to
carry yer goods an' chattels down to the boat."
"There is no need," said Yoosoof, waving his hand, and pointing to the
hut before mentioned. "Go; you can rest till we sail. Sleep; you will
need it. There is littil rice in hut--eat that, and make fire, dry youselfs."
So saying, the Arab left them by a path leading into the woods, along
which his men, who were Portuguese half-castes, had preceded him.
"Make fire indeed!" exclaimed Disco, as he walked with his companion
to the hut; "one would think, from the free-and-easy way in which he
tells us to make it, that he's in the habit himself of striking it out o' the
point o' his own nose, or some such convenient fashion."
"More likely to flash it out of his eyes, I should think," said Harold;
"but, see here, the fellow knew what he was talking about. There is fire
among these embers on the hearth."
"That's true," replied Disco, going down on his knees, and blowing
them carefully.
In a few minutes a spark leaped into a flame, wood was heaped on, and
the flame speedily became a rousing fire, before which they dried their
garments, while a pot of rice was put on to boil.
Scarcely had they proceeded thus far in their preparations, when two
men, armed with muskets, were seen to approach, leading a negro girl
between them. As they drew nearer, it was observable that the girl had
a brass ring round her neck, to which a rope was attached.
"A slave!" exclaimed Disco vehemently, while the blood rushed to his
face; "let's set her free!"

The indignant seaman had half sprung to his legs before Harold seized
and pulled him forcibly back.
"Be quiet man," said Harold quickly. "If we could free her by fighting,