AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



These were too wonderful. She grew more and more 

 excited, until several of the passengers leaning over 

 the rail began to murmur warningly, fearing harm. 

 After picking up each of these silver pieces, she 

 bowed and gestured very gracefully, 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 pros- 

 perous-looking Frenchman 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 kerchief, explaining eagerly, the tears running 

 down her face. 



^ Now the gangplank 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 

 the situation sobered her. Her great, wealthy, 

 powerful, kind friends were departing on their long 

 voyage over mysterious seas. Again and again, 

 very earnestly, she repeated the graceful, slow 

 pantomime — the wave of the arms outward, the eyes 

 raised to heaven, the hands clasped finally over her 



14 



