of an evening. The offer was accepted, and Frank was glad to think
that his two friends would be sitting smoking their pipes together
of an evening instead of being in their solitary rooms. The next
day he took up his residence in Eaton square.



CHAPTER VIII: TO THE DARK CONTINENT


After spending two or three days going about London and enjoying
himself with his friend Dick, Frank started for Deal, where he was
pleased to find his sister well and happy. He bade goodbye to her,
to the doctor, and such of his schoolfellows as lived in Deal, to
whom his start for Central Africa was quite an event. Dr. Bateman
handed over to him his watch and chain and his blowgun, which he
had taken care of for him, also his skinning knives and instruments.
The same evening he returned to town, and spent the days very
pleasantly until the afternoon came when he was to depart. Then he
bade farewell to his kind friends Sir James and Lady Ruthven. Dick
accompanied him in the cab to Euston station, where a minute or two
later Mr. Goodenough arrived. The luggage was placed in a carriage,
and Frank stood chatting with Dick at the door, until the guard's
cry, "Take your places!" caused him to jump into the carriage.
There was one more hearty handshake with his friend, and then the
train steamed out of the station.

It was midnight when they arrived at Liverpool, and at once went
to bed at the Station Hotel. On coming down in the morning Frank
was astonished at the huge heap of baggage piled up in the hall,