noon
Down at the river bank , cross the evil-smelling lagoon at the back of the town , Frank and Harry had their hands full directing shouting , laughing Kroomen how to load up the canoes . From the canopied steam launch that lay alongside the rickety wharf the black engineer -- an American Negro -- watched with great contempt their labors , which they enlivened with songs from time to time . `` Them 's de mos ' good fur nuffingest niggahs I ever did see , '' remarked Mr. Rastus Johnson -- that was his name -- with undisguised contempt . Nevertheless by noon the canoes had all been leaded and the farewells to the kind M. Desplaines and his family said . After a swift final inspection Frank pronounced everything ship-shape and even Doctor Wiseman who had been fussing about as Billy said `` like a hen with one chicken -- and that a lame duck , '' over his tin cases and poisonous looking bottles , announced that he was ready to start . The twelve chattering Kroomen who were to go as far as the Bambara country with the expedition were seated two in each canoe . They were along simply as camp attendants and packers and would by no means go any further than the borders of the Bambara country which they said was the dwelling-place of `` bery bad man sah . ''