And Babalatchi mentioned regretfully the men he had known in his young days: wealthy, resolute, courageous, reckless, ready for any enterprise! But why lament the past and speak about the dead?
There is one man--living--great--not far off.

.

.
Such was Babalatchi's line of policy laid before his ambitious protector.

Lakamba assented, his only objection being that it was very slow work.

In his extreme desire to grasp dollars and power, the unintellectual exile was ready to throw himself into the arms of any wandering cut-throat whose help could be secured, and Babalatchi experienced great difficulty in restraining him from unconsidered violence.