The Bafut Beagles

Even the sight of the collection being taken ashore did not fill me with the usual mixture of relief and pride. The Hairy Frogs had come through, as had the Brow-leaf Toads; Charlie and Mary were hooting in their cages as they were swung overboard. Sweeti-pie was eating a sugar-lump and eyeing the crowd on the docks with hopeful eyes, while the Moustached Monkey peered from his cage, his whiskers gleaming, looking like a juvenile Santa Claus. But even the sight of all these creatures being landed safely after so long and so dangerous a trip did not altogether compensate me for the loss of my little Idiurus, and Smith and I were just going to leave the ship when my sailor friend appeared. He had heard the news about Idiurus, and was extremely upset to think that our combined efforts had been in vain.

by the way, I said, just as I was leaving him, I am very curious to know where you got those avocado pears from in mid-ocean.

He glanced round to make sure we were not overheard.

I'll tell you, mate; only keep it under your hat, he said in a hoarse whisper.  The Captain's very partial to an avocado, see, and he has a big box of them in the fridge. He always

brings home a box, see? I just got some of them for you,

Do you mean to say those were the Captain's avocados? I asked faintly.

Sure. But he won't miss em, my friend assured me cheerfully;  you see, every time I took some of his out I put the same number of yours back in the box.

The customs men could not understand why I kept shaking with laughter as I was showing them our crates, and they kept darting suspicious looks at me. But it was not, unfortunately, the sort of joke you could share.