"It won't be that
kind of a call."
Billy left the Cafe Ducrot and made his way to the water-front. He was
expecting some electrical supplies by the _Prinz der Nederlanden_, and
she had already come to anchor.
He was late, and save for a group of his countrymen, who with the
customs officials were having troubles of their own, the customs shed
was all but deserted. Billy saw his freight cleared and was going away
when one of those in trouble signalled for assistance.
He was a good-looking young man in a Panama hat and his manner seemed to
take it for granted that Billy knew who he was.
"They want us to pay duty on our trunks," he explained, "and we want to
leave them in bond. We'll be here only until to-night, when we're going
on down the coast to Santo Domingo. But we don't speak French, and we
can't make them understand that."
"You don't need to speak any language to give a man ten dollars," said
Billy.
"Oh!" exclaimed the man in the Panama. "I was afraid if I tried that
they might arrest us."
"They may arrest you if you don't," said Billy.
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