Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-12
CHAPTER XIV.

satisfaction, and lay like dead man.
 CHAPTER XIV. I NE morning three months later l Guy Oscard drew up in line lN his flying column. He was l O going back to England with the first consignment of simiacine. During the twelve weeks that lay be- hind there had been constant reference made to hls little body of picked men, and the leader had selected with a grave deliberatlon that promised we'll
 The lost soldier that was in him was all astir in his veins as he reviewed his command in the cool air of early morning. The journey from Msala to the plateau had occupied busy two months. Oscard expected to reach Msala with his men in forty days. Piled up in neat square cases, such as could be carried in pairs by man of ordinary strength, was the crop of simiacine, roughly valued by Victor Durnovo at E4O,OOO. Ten men could carry the whole of 1t, and the twenty cases set close together on the ground made bed for Guy Oscard Upon this improvised couch he gravely stretched his bulk every night all through the journey that followed. It was on the open ground in front of the tents that Guy Oscard drew up his quick marching column before the sun had sprung up in It's fantastic tropical way from the distant line of virgin for. est. As he walked along the line, mak- ing suggestion here. pulling on a shoulder rope there. he looked stanch and strong as any man might wish t0 be. His face was burned so brown that eyebrows and mustache stood out almost blond, though in reality they werO only brown. dis eyes did not seem to be suffering from the heaviness noticeable In others: altogether, the climate and the mystic breath of the simiac;ne did not appear to affect him as they did his companions. This was probably accounted for by the .act that, being chief of the hunters, most of his days had been passed on the lower slopes in search of game.
 Oscard gave the signal for the men to start. and the long caravan defiied. Tho porters nodded to Meredith with a great display of white teeth, while the head men. the captains of tens. stepped out of the ranks ard shook hands.
 Before they had disappeared over the edge of the plateau Joseph came for ward to say goodby to Oscard.
 And 1t Is understood" said the lat ter. that pay in to your account at Lloyd's bank your share of the pro ceeds."
 Joseph grinned. "Yes. sir; if you please: presumin' it's a safe bank"
 Meredith walked little way down the slope with Oscard.
 "Goodby. old chap" he said, when the parting came. Good luck, and all that. Hope you will find all right at home. By the way" he shouted after him. "give my kind regards to the Cor dons at Loango."
 And so the first consignment of simiacine was sent from the plateau to the coast.
 Guy Oscard was one of those decep- tive men who only do few things and do those few very we'll. In forty-three days he deposited the twenty precious cases in Gordon's go-downs at Loango and paid oil the porters. of whom he had not lost one. These duties per formed. he turned his steps toward the bungalow. He had refused Gorion's invitation to stay with him uAtil the next day. when the coasting steamer was expected. To tell the truth. he was not very much prcpossessed in Matrices favor. and it was with a doubtful mind that he turned his steps toward the little house fin the forest be- tween Loango and the sea.
 And when did you leave themT' asked Jocelyn. after her visitor had explained who he was.
 T left them forty-four days ego. he replied
 And were they weilY' "Oh. yes" he replied. You know  "Yes." she said. We know s.r. Meredith The visitor did not speak at once. and she looked up at him over the flowers. with grave poIIteness. Meredith" he said. lis one of the most remarkable men I have ever met"
 Really she replied. with q kindly "HowT-
 He Is not the man I took him for l He is 90 wonderfully polite and gentle ani pleasant
 -Are you going back to-themys
 No. leave tomorrow morning early |, hy the Portuguese boat. I am going . home to be marriel-
 Indeed. Then I suppose you will wash your hands of Africa foreverr Not quite.- be replied T told l Meredith sat I would be prepared l b. SO up to him Ia case of emergency. but not otherwise I shall. of course. still be Interested in the sche7e I lake ho-1e the frsf consignment of