'For God's sake let us get away from this witch-doctor.' I couldn't make sense of it, but one thing was clear.

These maniacs had delivered us for the moment from Rasta and his friends.
Then I did a dashed silly thing.

I pulled out a sovereign and offered it to the leader.

I had some kind of notion of showing gratitude, and as I had no words I had to show it by deed.
He brought his stick down on my wrist and sent the coin spinning in the gutter.

His eyes blazed, and he made his weapon sing round my head.
He cursed me--oh, I could tell cursing well enough, though I didn't follow a word; and he cried to his followers and they cursed me too.