68 I N A G U A 



brella across his knees. 



Coleman, who is of a medical turn of mind, gave the Negro 

 a quick look, then turned and whispered, "Three head tumors, 

 confirmed alcoholic and bad kidneys— don't like him." 



I nodded agreement although, not being medical, I had not 

 noticed the presence of tumors or kidney symptoms. 



"Who's this? " I asked Daxon who was sitting motionless by 

 the anchor rope. 



"Oh, suh, he berry important mon heah." 



We turned again to look at this "berry important mon" and 

 decided after a short scrutiny that we did not like him any 

 better than before. In spite of the sun that was by then well 

 above the horizon he was wearing a heavy coat and vest, raiment 

 suitable for a northern winter, which was causing him to break 

 out in a profuse perspiration. Pompousness oozed from his very 

 being and was heightened by a thick linked gold watch chain 

 of the vintage of 1 890 which was draped ostentatiously across 

 his chest. 



"Wonder what this chap wants," Coleman whispered again, 

 "or is he a sort of official greeter?" 



The rowboat drew alongside and the man introduced him- 

 self as a Mr. Richardson. His business, he informed us, was 

 that of handling ship salvage. It was the custom, he explained, 

 for shipwrecked persons to turn over their affairs to duly ap- 

 pointed agents— of which he was the foremost— who handled 

 all details of government tax, sale of wreckage and salvage fees. 

 We, of course, would receive our portion— about eight per cent 

 of the total value of the wrecked goods, or possibly a little less 

 depending on the results of the auction sale which, as we no 

 doubt knew, would be held over our property in the near 

 future. When the island's commissioner permitted us to land 

 we would find Mr. Richardson at home in the large white 

 house near the government building where he would be very 



