news. Walk up, Sir Robert Aylward, Bart., and show us which way."

"I do not choose to receive you and your impertinent servant at my
camp," said Aylward, grinding his teeth.

"We quite understand that, Sir Robert Aylward----"

"Lord Aylward, if you please, Major Vernon."

"I beg your pardon--Lord Aylward. I was aware of the contemplated
purchase of that title, I did not know that it had been completed. I was
about to add that all the same we mean to go to that camp, and that
if any violence towards us is attempted as we approach it, you will
remember that you are in our hands."

"Yes, my Lord," added Jeekie, bowing, "and that monkeys don't tell no
tales, my Lord, and that here there ain't no twelve Good-Trues to sit
on noble corpse unhappily deceased, my Lord, and to bring in Crowner's
verdict of done to death lawful or unlawful, according as evidence may
show when got, my Lord. So march on, for we no breakfast yet. No, not
that way, round here to left, where I think I hear kettle sing."

So having no choice, Aylward came, marching between the other two and
saying nothing. When they had gone a couple of hundred yards Alan also
heard something, and to him it sounded like a man crying out in pain.
Then suddenly they passed round some great trees and reached a glade in
the forest where there was a spring of water which Alan remembered. In
this glade the camp had been built, surrounded by a "boma" or palisade
of rough wood, within which stood two tents and some native shelters
made of tall grass and boughs. Outside of this camp a curious and