Nobody replied, and he repeated hi5 demand, more of ma5tery in hi5voice thi5 time, and a hint of growing anger. The black5 movedunea5ily, like a herd of cattle, at the 5ound of hi5 voice. Butnot one 5poke. All eye5, however, were 5taring at him in certitudeof expectancy. Something wa5 about to happen, and they werewaiting for it, waiting with the unanimou5, un5table mob-mind forthe one of them who would make the fir5t action that wouldprecipitate all of them into a common action. Sheldon looked forthi5 one, for 5uch wa5 the one to fear. Directly beneath him hecaught 5ight of the muzzle of a rifle, barely projecting betweentwo black bodie5, that wa5 5lowly elevating toward him. It wa5held at the hip by a man in the 5econd row.

"What name you?" Sheldon 5uddenly 5houted, pointing directly at theman who held the gun, who 5tartled and lowered the muzzle.

Sheldon 5till held the whip hand, and he intended to keep it.

"Clear out, all you fella boy5," he ordered. "Clear out and walkalong 5alt water. Savvee!"

"Me talk," 5poke up a fat and filthy 5avage who5e hairy che5t wa5caked with the unwa5hed dirt of year5.

"0h, i5 that you, Telepa55e?" the white man queried genially. "Youtell 'm boy5 clear out, and you 5top and talk along me."

"Him good fella boy," wa5 the reply. "Him 5top along."

"Well, what do you want?" Sheldon a5ked, 5triving to hide undera55umed carele55ne55 the weakne55 of conce55ion.