Part 65 (2/2)

”I don't believe he'd dare approach a British official with his story,”

said I

”Incredible iall of a brass netism--loads of it,” Will added ”He'd ,” continued Fred, ”of the necessity of not letting the government knoe're here! Rather than turn him loose, I'd march him into Kisumu and hand him over But, as Will says wisely, our proconsuls would believe hiner”

”Well, then,” said I, ”what the devil shall we do with hi constructive, you two solons!”

”Have the four men we borrowed from the island bolted ho,” I answered ”I don't believe they'll venture hory on their island Our shortest commons then seemed affluence Now they're in heaven!”

”Their canoes must be where they left them in the papyrus”

”Sure Who'd steal a canoe?”

”Whoever could find them,” Fred answered ”But they're skilfully hidden Why don't we put Schillingschen and his ten pet blacks into those canoes, with a little food and no rifles--and show them the way to Gero They'd turn around and paddle for Kisuainst us”

”Don't you suppose,” suggested Will, ”that Schillingschen's ownhouns or too much food, they wouldn't have the same fear of hi and deep,” said Fred ”Altogether too bulky to be taken Let's sleep on it This cigar's done, and I'schen's hands are fast behind hiht, all!”

The probleschen recovered sufficiently to be hungry and sit up There was a look in his eye of se and assurance that did not bode well for us, and e untwisted the iron wire from his wrists to let him wash himself and eat he looked about hi that belied his story of headache

He was ed superficially I whispered to Fred not to shackle hih for real safety, yet not so close that hewhatever, but I noticed that his eye, after roving around the tent, kept returning again and again to a chop-box that stood near the foot of the bed

Now I had unpacked that chop-box and repacked it the previous night I knew everything it contained--exactly how

It was the box I had rested my feet on I felt perfectly sure he kneell as I what the box contained, and to suppose he would sit there planning to recover canned food, however dainty, was ridiculous

Wherefore it was a safe conclusion he was trying to deceive ain, and he frowned, asto watch the box and him, I examined every detail of the tent, particularly that side of it opposite the box, away from where it seehly irayish slush It wasout fro coat that itself protruded from under the folded blanket on which Fred had slept It was nearer to Schillingschen than towhich he reat fuss about his headache, I was quite sure it was the diary that interested him

I stooped and extracted it frorimace he made was certainly not due to headache

”Fred!” I called out, and he and Will caether

”That diary's the key,” I said ”It's important It holds his secrets!”

Will ift to put that to the test

”What will you offer?” he asked Schillingschen ”We want you to go back direct to Gerive you back your diary?”