Part 10 (1/2)

Cuthbert, who dabbled in stocks and shares, was an acquisition to any syndicate, and on the understanding that part of his duty would be the obtaining of the concession, he gladly financed the syndicate to the extent of seven thousand pounds, four thousand of which Messrs Isidore and McPherson very kindly returned to him to cover the cost of his expedition

The other three thousand were earmarked for office expenses

As Mr McPherson truly said:

”Whatever happens, we're on velvet, my boy,” which was perfectly true

Before Cuthbert sailed, McPherson offered him a little advice

”Whatever you do,” he said, ”steer clear of that dam' Commissioner Sanders He's one of those pryin', interferin'--”

”I know the breed,” said Cuthbert wisely ”This is not my first visit to Africa Did I ever tell you about the lion I shot in Uganda?”

A week later he sailed

In course of tih Sanders' doreen path to death-but this he did not know He threw his face to the forest, as the natives say, and laughed, and the people of the village of O'Te before their wattle huts, watched hie trees, and the green of the undergroas flecked with sunlight, and, indeed, the green path was beautiful to the eye, being not unlike a parkland avenue

N'Beki, chief of this village of the O'Teood old an his journey

”White man,” he said solemnly, ”this is the road to hell, where all s self-hatred, which is worse than death”

Cuthbert, whose Swaheli was faulty, and whose Borinned impatiently as his coastboy translated unpicturesquely

”Daood; he say bio to blazes!” said Cuthbert noisily; ”and, look here, Flagstaff, ask him where the rubber is, see? Tell him we know all about the forest, and ask hiround is?”

Cuthbert was broad-shouldered and heavily built, and under his broad sun-helmet his face was very hot and moist

”Tell the white man,” said the chief quietly, ”there is no rubber within seven days' journey, and that we do not know ivory; elephants there were cala cala-but not now”

”He's a liar!” was Cuthbert's only costaff Hi, alapa', avanti, trek!”

”These beggars,” a straggling line of theood carriers, as carriers go, and only two had died since the an

Cuthbert stood and watched theards Then he turned to go

”Ask him,” he said finally, ”why he calls this the road to what-d'ye-call-it?”

The old man shook his head

”Because of the devils,” he said simply