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And another time: "Guess those niggers yonder are half mad with funk about something." But Rabeira was always quick to reassure him. "Now dey lib for Congo, dey not like the idea of soldier-palaver. Dere was nothing more the matter with them but leetle sickness." "Oh! it's recruits for the State Army you're bringing, is it?" asked Kettle. "If you please," said Rabeira cheerfully.
Are you sure they were pukka dead when you put them over the side?" "Oh, yes," said Rabeira smilingly, "an' dey made no objection. It was best dey should go over quick. Bodies do not keep in this heat. An' pilot, I do you square-a, same as with Nilssen. You shall have your dash when doctor-palaver set." "No," said Kettle, "you may keep it in your own trousers, Captain.
"They look a mighty sick couple," said Kettle, "and their friends seem very frightened. If this ship doesn't carry a doctor, it would be a good thing if the old man were to start in and deal out some drugs." It seemed that Rabeira was of the same opinion.
Once, when the cackle of negro voices seemed to point to an immediate outbreak, Rabeira gave an order, and presently a couple of cubical green boxes were taken forward by the ship's Krooboys, broken up, and the square bottles which they contained, distributed to greedy fingers. "Dashing 'em gin," said Nilssen, looking serious.
He was paid to be a pilot by the État Indépendant du Congo so he said and he was not going to risk a chance of trouble, and no possibility of profit, by meddling with matters beyond his own sphere. Especially did he decline to be co-sharer in Kettle's scheme for dealing out justice to Captain Rabeira. "It is not your palaver," he said, "or mine.
Money that you've fingered, is a bit too dirty for me to touch." "All right," said Rabeira with a genial shrug, "so much cheaper for me. But do not talk on the beach, dere's good boy, or you make trouble-palaver for me."
The Portuguese captain was in his bunk, trying to sleep. He was sober for the first time for many days, and, in consequence, feeling not a little ill. Kettle deposited his charge with carefulness on the littered settee, and Rabeira started up with a wild scream of fright and a babble of oaths. Kettle shut and locked the door.
A yellow-faced Belgian, with white sun helmet and white umbrella, presently came off in the doctor's boat, and announced himself as the health officer of the port, and put the usual questions. Rabeira lied pleasantly and glibly.
He called Rabeira every vile name which came to his mind, and wound up his harangue by rowing off to Chingka to make sure that the guns of the fort should back up his commands. The Portuguese captain was daunted then; there is no doubt about that.
At this delivery were present the said factor and Baltesar de Freitas, the notary of the fleet; Andres d'Ibarra, captain; Guido de Levazaris, his majesty's treasurer; Amador de Arrayaran, first ensign, and Graviel da Rabeira, head aiguazil, of the camp all of whom signed here with me, Pero Bernaldez, notary, who writes these presents. Pero Bernaldez, Alfonso Alvarez Furtado, Baltesar de Freitas.
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