Part 39 (1/2)

CHAPTER xxxVIII

CAPTAIN BECKER LOSES A WAGER

”No, no, gentle leave to differ with you Africa never gives up her white slaves”

Captain Lucius Becker e his fist down heavily on the frail table before hilared defiantly at his two companions

It was a hot and sultry afternoon in March--such a March as only tropical Africa knows--and the place was the German military station of New Potsdam, on the left bank of the river Juba, a few miles from its mouth, in eastern Africa

On the broad bosorove jungles and lofty palm trees drooped motionless in the dead calm Upon the flat roof of the little station, however, the refining touches of civilization had done ate the severity and disco of snowy canvas, shaded by the projecting clusters of a group of palrateful shelter, and under this the three officers had been dining

Captain Becker continued to blow out great clouds of white sument on the subject under discussion

The silence was broken at last by Dr Moebius Goldbeck

”My dear captain,” he said, in slow, ree with you Africa has passed through es of late years These ain, and ht, doctor; your views are eminently sound,” said Lieutenant Carl von Leyden

Captain Becker removed his meerschaum from his lips, and shook himself in his chair until his sword clanked on the floor

”Now listen,” he cried ”These lish colonel, the captain of the Aden stealishmen, not one of these er a hundred thalers”

”Done!” cried Lieutenant von Leyden

”Done!” echoed Dr Goldbeck

Hardly had the echoes of their voices died ahen the sentry wheeled about hastily and said: ”Captain, so comes down the river It has just rounded the bend It looks too large for a boat”

Captain Becker rushed down below, hurried back with a pair of glasses, and took a long survey

”It is a raft,” he cried, turning to his co on it; whether dead or alive I cannot tell Man a boat at once The current runs swift, and ill have barely time to reach it”

The boat was ready alround, and under the steady movement of four pairs of oars they shot swiftly out on the yellow tide of the Juba

In silence they approached the drifting object, the boat's prow cutting sharply the opposing waves

Noenty yards away--ten yards--five yards--then the boat bus and Dr Goldbeck boarded the raft, followed quickly by his two companions

”_Mein himmel!_” he cried ”What can this mean? Six dead bodies!

Horrible! horrible!”

He turned pale for a moment Then, as his professional instinct asserted itself, he knelt beside theaway and applied his hand to the heart