Trent, you see how pale I am."

He staggered towards the bottle. Trent watched him, interfering no
longer. With a little chuckle of content he seized upon it and,
too fearful of interference from Trent to wait for a glass, raised
it to his lips. There was a gurgling in his throat - a little spasm
as he choked, and released his lips for a moment. Then the bottle
slid from his nerveless fingers to the floor, and the liquor oozed
away in a little brown stream; even Trent dropped his pack of cards
and sprang up startled. For bending down under the sloping roof
was a European, to all appearance an Englishman, in linen clothes
and white hat. It was the man for whom they had waited.



CHAPTER IV


Trent moved forward and greeted the newcomer awkwardly. "You're
Captain Francis," he said. "We've been waiting for you."

The statement appeared to annoy the Explorer. He looked nervously
at the two men and about the hut.

"I don't know how the devil you got to hear of my coming, or what
you want with me," he answered brusquely. "Are you both English?"

Trent assented, waving his hand towards his companion in
introductory fashion.