"And you are very foolish in your offers," I replied. "Tell me,
why do you make such crack-brained arrangements?"

"I don't quite know. Something in me seems to say that we
_shall_ make this expedition and that it will have a very
important effect upon my life. Mind you, it is to be to the
Lydenburg district and nowhere else. And now I am tired, so
let's turn in."

Next morning we parted and went our separate ways.



CHAPTER II




MR. MARNHAM





So much for preliminaries, now for the story.

The eighteen months had gone by, bringing with them to me their
share of adventure, weal and woe, with all of which at present I
have no concern. Behold me arriving very hot and tired in the
post-cart from Kimberley, whither I had gone to invest what I had