But a right cheery one it was.
"Pull away, cheerily,
Not slow and wearily,
Rocking the cradle,[1] boys, swift to and fro.
Working the hand about,
Sifting the sand about,
Looking for treasures that lie in below."
[1] The machine used for washing the "pay-dirt".
"Hurrah! Hurrah!"
Another and a truly British cheer. The savages far down below heard it and trembled.
"Plaps," said Carrambo, "dey tink all de debbils was let loose now foh tlue."
"Here, Carrambo, hurry down with a bottle of goo-goo to the old king, and tell him we are his friends now, and if an enemy comes we will help to fight him."
Carrambo came back the same evening rejoicing, but laughing his wildest.
"Plenty much fun!" he cried. "De fat king he dlunk, ebber so much dlunk. He do nuffin' now. Jus' lie on him back and sing. Ha! ha! ha!"
The boys went back to their fort to dine. Carrambo would be their friend, though to the savages he pretended not to be so. He was even entrusted with a revolver, and thus a right happy man was he.