games on them. My aunt, but they were a beastly sight."

The Commandant shivered also. He, too, knew what torture from the hands
of those savage Central African blacks meant.

"I should blow up the launch with every soul on board of her," he said,
"if I thought there was any chance of their boarding with canoes."

"Well, you can bet your life they'll try it," said Kettle, "if we stay
here."

"But how can we move? We can't make steam. And if we do push off this
bank, we shall drift on to the next bank down stream."

"That's your idea," said Kettle. "Haven't you got a better?"

"You must not speak to me like that," said Balliot, with another little
snap of dignity and passion. "I'm your senior officer."

"At the present rate you'll continue to be that till about nightfall,"
said Kettle unpleasantly, "after which time we shall be killed, one way
or another, and our ranks sorted out afresh."

"Now, you two," said Clay, "don't start wrangling again." He took a
bottle out of a square green case, and passed it. "Here, have some gin."

"For God's sake, Doc, dry up," said Kettle, "and pull yourself together,
and remember you're a blooming Englishman."

Clay's thin yellow cheeks flushed. "What's the use?" he said with a