THE ARAB'S PRECEPT 189 



straight. I feel cold. I say, 'No, Boss, I hab nothing.' 

 He talk more loud— 'GIB UP THAT PEARL ! ' I fright. 

 I put my hand to my pucket. I pull out pearl. I am all 

 fire now. I shove 'em longa table. I shout — ' There you 

 blurry pearl ! ' Boss catch 'em quick. He say ' Get out 

 my cabin, you dirty Arab ! You dam thief Subpose you 

 gib my pearl first time I gib you something. Now I gib 

 you kick ! ' I go. 



" You see. Mister my good friend, my countryman, he 

 tell Boss about my white pearl. I lorse him now." 



" But you got two more in your pocket." 



" Yes, very good pearl ; but not good like my snow 

 pearl. I am sick now. Boss he sack me. I land Thursday 

 Island. I gamble fantan. I no care. Soon I hab no pearl 

 at all. I hab no work. I am hard up. 



" Now, Mister, subpose I no say nothing to my good 

 friend I am reech man of my country. I drink Mocha 

 coffee. I am too poor. Suppose I go to my country, 

 back from Aden, I earn drink coffee I am too poor, I 

 drink coffee from outside. Inside coffee, we sell for reech 

 people — you Inglesh, and Frinch, and Turkey men." 



" What do you mean by outside coffee ? " 



"When you pick coffee, you Inglesh chuck away 

 outside. We poor Arab dry that outside, smash 'em up 

 like flour, boil 'em for coffee. All inside coffee we hab to 

 sell, so poor that country. Mister, I bin tell true my yarn — 

 neber tell you good friend nothing." 



