Fred maliciously.

"I'll inquire about that," said the collector.

"Excuse me," said Fred, "but I'm going to give you some advice. While
you're inquiring, look into the antecedents of Lady Isobel Saffren
Waldon! It's she who gave out the tip against us. Her tip's a bad
one. So is she."

"She hasn't applied for guns or a license," the collector answered
tartly. "It's people who want to carry firearms--people able
and likely to make trouble whom we keep an eye on."

"She's more likely to make trouble for you than a burning house!" put
in Will Yerkes. "If my partner hadn't paid you that check I'd be all
for having this business out! I'm going to let them know in the States
what sort of welcome people receive at this port!"

"You came of your own accord. You weren't invited," the collector
answered.

"That's a straight-out lie!" snapped Will. "You know it's a lie! Why,
there isn't a newspaper in South Africa that hasn't been carrying ads
of this country for months past. Even papers I've had sent me from the
States have carried press-agent dope about it. Why, you've been
yelling for settlers like a kid squalling for milk--and you say we're
not invited now we've come here! I'm going to write and tell the U. S.
papers what that dope is worth!"

"Ivory hunters are not settlers," the collector interjected.