willingly.

----------
* Monumme (Kiswahili)--Lit. male-man in his prime.
----------

The guard procured his trays at last, delivered them at a run, returned
in a hurry and swallowed his own meal at a side-table. Then, with his
mouth full, he reported for orders to the railway official, who was
still checking figures. The room was beginning to grow empty.
Coutlass and his Greek friend and the Goanese sat almost alone at the
far end of the other table, finishing their pudding. I had not noticed
until then that the guard was a singularly little man. He stood very
few inches taller than the seated official. I suppose that hitherto in
some way his energy had seemed to increase his inches.

"Are there handcuffs in the caboose?"

"Yes, sir."

"Fetch them."

In spite of Brown of Lumbwa's protests, who wept at the notion of
having to eat alone, we were in the act of settling our bills and
going. But mention of handcuffs suggesting entertainment, we lit
cigars and, imagining we stayed for love of him, Brown cooed at us.

"I've the darbies in my pocket, sir!"

I thought the guard looked more undersized than ever. He would have
made a fair-sized middle-weight jockey.

"Tell that Greek--Coutlass his name is--to come here."

With his tongue stuck into his cheek and a wink at us the guard obeyed.

"He says for you to go to 'ell, sir!" he reported after a moment's
interview.

"Very well. Arrest him!"

"He'll need help," I interrupted. "My two friends and I--"

"Oh, dear no," said the official. "He is fully up to his work."

So we moved our chairs into position for a better view.

The guard advanced fox-terrierwise to within about six paces of
Coutlass.

"Up with both your 'ands, Thermopylea!" he snapped. "Your bloomin'
reckonin's come!"

Coutlass showed tobacco-stained teeth for answer, and his friends
rutched their chairs clear of the table, ready for action. Yet they
were taken unawares. With a terrier's speed the guard pounced on
Coutlass, seized him by the hair and collar, hurled him, chair and all,
under a side-table, and was on the far side of the table kicking his
prostrate victim in the ribs before either Greek or Goanese--likewise
upset in the sudden onslaught--could gather themselves and interfere.

The Goanese was first on his feet. He hurled a soda-water bottle. The
guard ducked and the bottle smashed into splinters on the wall. Before
the sound of smashing glass had died the Goanese