CHAPTER VIII--SURVIVALS


At breakfast Sir Nathaniel noticed that Adam was put out about something,
but he said nothing. The lesson of silence is better remembered in age
than in youth. When they were both in the study, where Sir Nathaniel
followed him, Adam at once began to tell his companion of what had
happened. Sir Nathaniel looked graver and graver as the narration
proceeded, and when Adam had stopped he remained silent for several
minutes, before speaking.

"This is very grave. I have not formed any opinion yet; but it seems to
me at first impression that this is worse than anything I had expected."

"Why, sir?" said Adam. "Is the killing of a mongoose--no matter by
whom--so serious a thing as all that?"

His companion smoked on quietly for quite another few minutes before he
spoke.

"When I have properly thought it over I may moderate my opinion, but in
the meantime it seems to me that there is something dreadful behind all
this--something that may affect all our lives--that may mean the issue of
life or death to any of us."

Adam sat up quickly.