i88 CONFESSIONS OF A BEACHCOMBER 



" For one week I neber say nothing. My good friend, 

 my countryman from Aden, AH. I tell 'em I find one 

 pearl. Now, Mister, I tell you straight neber tell nothing. 

 You hab one good friend, one countryman. You lobe that 

 man, your good friend. But you no tell 'em nothing. I 

 made fool myself when I tell 'em. I big hoombug of 

 myself. Two days, I am pulling dinghy up to lugger. Big 

 Boss he on board schooner. I see him look me. Quick I 

 think, ' Hassan, you make of yourself a fool. You lorse 

 you white pearl ! ' He sing out ' Hassan ! ' I gammon I 

 neber hear 'em. Sing out loud ' Hassan ! You, boy I 

 Come here ! ' I pull up to lugger. He sing out. ' Come 

 here quick ! I want talk you ! ' ' All right, Boss, I come, 

 I go longa lugger first time ! ' He savage. Call out 

 smart ' Come here, I tell you ! Come quick ! ' 



" I am little fright he might shoot with revolver. I pull 

 up to schooner ; make fast line. Go on board. Boss he say 

 quiet, nice, like gentlemen, ' Hello, Hassan ! Good-day. 

 Why you no come when I sing out first time.' I say ' I 

 hab that water for lugger.' He say, ' Well, my boy, you 

 come quick when I call out. No good hang back. How 

 you getting on ? You come down my cabin. I no see 

 you long time. Come down below.' ' All up,' I say 

 myself. Hello ! Nother man. Bottle rum on table. Plenty 

 biskeet on plate, glasses eberything. Boss he say, ' Come, 

 my boy ; come, Hassan, make yourself happy. Gib your- 

 self glass rum. Take good nip.' That very good rum, 

 strong too. I gib myself one good rum. I eat biskeet. 

 Boss he say, ' Come, my boy, gib yourself nother rum.' I 

 gib myself nother good rum ; eat plenty of that sweet 

 biskeet. We three fellow very good friend. I feel happy. 

 Boss shake hand, he say ' Hassan, very good boy.' I gib 

 myself nother good rum. We talk. Just now Boss he 

 look straight. He say quiet ' Hassan, my boy, you hab 

 something belonga me.' He look sharp like a knife. ' No, 

 Boss, I hab nothing of you.' He talk loud ' Hassan, you 

 hab something belonga me. Gib it up quick ! ' That 

 other white man he stand longside gangway. I look 



