Evening star., 1898-05-21

| twenty-four hours, there was clearly no
| time for the Swahlis to extend their search
| In a wider radius. Quin made the best of
| MS disappointment which he could afford
| to do. since he had attained the primary
| object of his journey. 1t was too hot to go
I tranping about, so he sQuatted against the
shady side of his hut and smoked steady
| pipes OF his strong tobacco. The surround
ing jungle reeked with miaSmatic odors
and out of the Cuba the heat waves SHIN
mered above the sluggish water. The lions
gorged to safety, were sleeping In their
cages under a clump of trees
Toward the close of the afternoon when
! gum had fallen into doZe he was reused
by the eager voices of the Swahilis. He
saw that they were pointing to the tall
grass north of the camp, and as he glanced
In that direction he heard rustlng, thresh-
ing noise The next instant a man broke
| from cover and strobe across the camp He
! carried rifle on his shoulder. and wore
hlSh boots, sun helmet and suit of gray
Khaki He was about forty years old, with
black mustache and pointed beard, and his
features and yellowish skin proclaimed at
veins.
Quin rose to his feet, rathe- surprised by
the sight of European; the stranger paus-
ed before him and bowed politely.
Il hope you will pardon my intrusion"
he said. with friendly smile. Il was
passing by, and caught glimpse of your
huts. He locked carelessly toward the
lion cages. and added: That is a fine pair
VI GiiiiiiiiS yOu LlNc lIu you trap tnem
hereabouts?"
! No; bought them from a native cara
van, Quin answered.
His manner was cool at first, but he
presently thawed little under the genial
manner of his visitor, who seemed an
honest, free-and-ea.y sort of chap.
You may have heard my name" the
man suggested. Il am Inspector Gonzales
OF the British East Africa Company. My
camp is in the neighborhood, and l am On
the lookout for some rascals who have
teen smuggling firearms and spirits up the
river to the negroes. But 1 can't find
tEem-!uck is against me far"
Quin sympathiZed with his visitor and
in turn stated his own name and what
further particulars politeness required.
Wont .., you take supper with me?" he
added. Il can't offer you much
Then let me be the host" interrupted
Inspector Gonzales. My camp is but half
a mile away, and 1 have there bottle of
wine and some other supplies one does not
great pleasure to n:e, l assure you. 1 have
been up country for fortnight and have
seen no Englishmen in that time
Quin accepted without much hesitat On.
He rather liked the man, and never doubt
ed that he was what he claimed to be; and
he was not averse TO while away in Pleas
ant company some of the long hours that
must elapse before the arrival of the
steamer. He gave the Swahilis some in
structions about the care of the camp and
the tigers, bade them stay awake until
fis return. and then departed with his
new acquaintance. The box of silver dol
lars he had concealed that morning while
his men were absent.
The distance traversed was nearer a
mile than a half mile. Inspector Gonzales
led the way through the tall grass and
reeds, and the camp burst suddenly upon
Quins view. 1t consisted of two tents
pitched in small clearing that bordered
a pool of brackish water, and outside the
larger of the tents squatted four armed
natives. yillainous of feature, who ap-
peared to be blend of Arab and Comoro
Islander They were not the sort Of chaps
Quin would have expected to find in the
service of the company. but, keen-witted
and observant as he usually was, this cir
cumstance did not strike him at the time.
He was hot and hungry, and moreover the
daylight was beginning to fade.
Welcome to my poor quarters!' said
Inspector Gonzales. Make yourself as
comfortable as you can-supper will be
served directly
The negroes looked far from clean and
Quin was relieved to see that they had no
intention of preparing the meal That was
done by the host, and, all things consd-
cred. it a particularly good supper.
A log served for 81 table, and the roots and
| trunk of tree for seats. The menu COM
prised Timed meats, biscuits. fruit and an
Indian pickle and by way of liquid re-
freshment a bottle Of fair c1aret. Quin ate
heartily, but drank sparngly of the wine.
VIXEN strange drCwsiness began to steal
over him he attributed 1t to the heat of
the sun. 1t grew steadily worse. He saw
Inspector Gonzales smiling at him, and he
was vaguely aware of some story of adven-
ture his host was relating. He tried to
speak. but could not. Then a mist swan
before his eyes, and he remembered moth
ing more.
1t was night when Quin woke I'D.
cool air was blowing, and q moon shone
slantingly over the jungle top into the