"I can black boots better than ten boot-blacks," said I, confidently.
"All right," said he, seating himself, and presenting me his foot; "black away."
I tremblingly opened my box, and taking out my brushes hesitatingly said:
"Ya sidi, my blacking is not very good; it is rather dry. If you let me use your blacking, I could make your shoes like a mirror."
"Very well," he unsuspectingly said, handing me a large box of blacking from a well-filled shelf over his head. "I guess mine is fresher; but make them fine, for I want to go to a wedding."
"Halla rassi" (i. e., on my head), I replied, setting to work. It being a very hot day, this gentleman was dressed in a long spotless white caftan touching his ankles. I worked vigorously, and in my eagerness to do the thing well, I got the blacking smeared over my hands, which left large black marks on his ankles, and, worst of all, I had a nice sprinkling of black dots all over his white suit.
"Oh, you young rascal!" he exclaimed, hurriedly, glancing at his condition, "what have you done?"
He was just about dealing me a blow, when I grasped my box and brushes and made my escape. Exasperated that he had missed me, with an oath he flung the box of blacking after me, which hit me on the shoulder. I joyfully clutched the blacking, and ran into another street as fast as my legs could carry me. Breathless, I sat down on a door-step to contemplate my next undertaking, whereupon four professional boot-blacks roughly accosted me, asking how long I had been a boot-black, and to what district I belonged. I replied that I did not belong to any; upon which they began roughly pushing me, and wanted to take away my brushes and blacking; but I fought manfully and desperately for them.
"Hafarêm" (i. e., well done), said one. "You are a ghadah" (i. e., fine fellow). "You can fight well; and as you have no one, we will take you in our company, provided you divide your earnings with us."
Of course I acceded with great pleasure.