A Style of Hairdressing.
CHAPTER IX
Ma goes farther up the Creek and settles in a heathen town in the wilds; she enters into happy friendships with young people in Scotland; has a holiday in a beautiful island, where she makes a secret compact with a lame boy; and is given a Royal Cross for the heroic work she has done.
One day there came out of the unknown a black boy with a number of strange-looking men.
"Mökömö Ma," he said, "I salute you. We come to see you. We are from Ikpe. The soldiers and the people fought there and the people fled. I know about you and I told them and they want your help."
"Ikpe?" echoed Ma. "Where is that? I never heard of it."
"Far up the Creek," he replied vaguely; "two days by canoe. A big town."
"But I never knew of trading canoes going there."
"No, Ma, they don't allow Calabar men at Ikpe."