"How many miles?"
"I not count, free undled, plaps. Plaps mo'. Plenty savage, plenty folest (forest), lion, tiger, and 'gators in de ribbers. Pletty soon de gobble up poo' little Englishmans."
"Where did you learn your English?"
"At de court ob de Sultan ob Zanzibar. But I cut de troats ob two tree men and den fly in one canoe. I now King Slaleema's plime minister."
"And a bonnie ticket you are," said Duncan. "Now, listen; if you will carry a letter to Lamoo and bring an answer you shall have a gun on your return with the reply. The letter shall be for the Sultan. Are you agreed?"
The fellow seized Duncan's hand and pressed it to his brow.
"De bargain am made," he cried. "I'se ready. All de way I run. Carrambo hab de good legs."
"Who called you Carrambo?"
"De dam Portugee. I cut tree, four troats all de same."
The recollection caused him to laugh. But he now spat viciously on the ground.