20 AFRICAN CAMP FIRES. 



very wharf rats and gamins, wolfish and fierce 

 in their everyday life of the water-front, 

 seemed to take a genuine pleasure in pointing 

 out to her the resting-place of those her dim 

 old eyes had not seen. Silver pieces followed. 

 These were too wonderful. She grew more and 

 more excited, until several of the passengers lean- 

 ing over the rail began to murmur warningly, 

 fearing harm. After picking up each of these 

 silver pieces, she bowed and gestured very grace- 

 fully, waving both hands outward, lifting eyes 

 and hands to heaven, kissing her fingers, trying by 

 every means in her power to express the dazzling 

 wonder and joy that this unexpected marvel was 

 bringing her. When she had done all these things 

 many times, she hugged herself ecstatically. A 

 very well-dressed and prosperous-looking French- 

 man standing near seemed to be a little afraid she 

 might hug him. His fear had, perhaps, some 

 grounds, for she shook hands with everybody all 

 around, and showed them her wealth in her ker- 

 chief, explaining eagerly, the tears running down 

 her face. 



Now the gang-plank was drawn aboard, and the 

 band struck up the usual lively air. At the first 

 notes the old woman executed a few feeble little jig 

 steps in sheer exuberance. Then the solemnity of 



