have taken on this job, and I mean to stick to it, so you needn't
be afraid to tell me.'

The manager looked at me sharply. 'That's the way to talk,
my lad. You look as if you had a stiff back, so I'll be frank with
you. There is something about the place. It gives the ordinary
man the jumps. What it is, I don't know, and the men who
come back don't know themselves. I want you to find out for
me. You'll be doing the firm an enormous service if you can
get on the track of it. It may be the natives, or it may be the
takhaars, or it may be something else. Only old Japp can
stick it out, and he's too old and doddering to care about
moving. I want you to keep your eyes skinned, and write
privately to me if you want any help. You're not out here for
your health, I can see, and here's a chance for you to get your
foot on the ladder.

'Remember, I'm your friend,' he said to me again at the
garden gate. 'Take my advice and lie very low. Don't talk,
don't meddle with drink, learn all you can of the native jabber,
but don't let on you understand a word. You're sure to get on
the track of something. Good-bye, my boy,' and he waved a
fat hand to me.

That night I embarked on a cargo-boat which was going
round the coast to Delagoa Bay. It is a small world - at least
for us far-wandering Scots. For who should I find when I got
on board but my old friend Tam Dyke, who was second mate
on the vessel? We wrung each other's hands, and I answered,
as best I could, his questions about Kirkcaple. I had supper