Lieutenant Tibbetts stumbled to his feet glaring and grimacing wildly.
"Parade all correct, sir," he said, "the mail boat has just come in, an' there's a jolly old salmon for supper."
"Wake up, you dreaming devil," said Hamilton.
Bones looked around. In the bright moonlight he saw theZairemoored to the shelving beach, saw Hamilton, and turned his head to the empty cairn.
"Good Lord!" he gasped.
"O Sleepless One!" said Hamilton softly, "O bright eyes!"
Bones went blundering to the cairn, made a closer inspection, and came slowly back.
"There's only one thing for me to do, sir," he said, saluting. "As an officer an' a gentleman, I must blow my brains out."
"Brains!" said Hamilton scornfully.
"As a matter of fact I sent Bosambo to collect the ivory which I shall divide amongst the three chiefs—it's perished ivory, anyhow; and he had my written authority to take it, but being a born thief he preferred to steal it; you'll find it stacked in your cabin, Bones."
"In my cabin, sir!" said an indignant Bones; "there isn't room in my cabin, sir. How the dickens am I going to sleep?"
THE END
POPULAR NOVELSBYEDGAR WALLACEPublished ByWard, Lock & Co., Limited.In Various Editions.SANDERS OF THE RIVERBONESBOSAMBO OF THE RIVERBONES IN LONDONTHE KEEPERS OF THE KING'S PEACETHE COUNCIL OF JUSTICETHE DUKE IN THE SUBURBSTHE PEOPLE OF THE RIVERDOWN UNDER DONOVANPRIVATE SELBYTHE ADMIRABLE CARFEWTHE MAN WHO BOUGHT LONDONTHE JUST MEN OF CORDOVATHE SECRET HOUSEKATE, PLUS TENLIEUTENANT BONESTHE ADVENTURES OF HEINEJACK O' JUDGMENTTHE DAFFODIL MYSTERYTHE NINE BEARSTHE BOOK OF ALL POWERMR. JUSTICE MAXELLTHE BOOKS OF BARTTHE DARK EYES OF LONDONCHICKSANDI, THE KING-MAKERTHE THREE OAK MYSTERYTHE FELLOWSHIP OF THE FROGBLUE HANDGREY TIMOTHYA DEBT DISCHARGEDTHOSE FOLK OF BULBORO'THE MAN WHO WAS NOBODYTHE GREEN RUSTTHE FOURTH PLAGUETHE RIVER OF STARSMade and Printed in Great Britain byWard, Lock & Co., Limited, London.
SANDERS OF THE RIVERBONESBOSAMBO OF THE RIVERBONES IN LONDONTHE KEEPERS OF THE KING'S PEACETHE COUNCIL OF JUSTICETHE DUKE IN THE SUBURBSTHE PEOPLE OF THE RIVERDOWN UNDER DONOVANPRIVATE SELBYTHE ADMIRABLE CARFEWTHE MAN WHO BOUGHT LONDONTHE JUST MEN OF CORDOVATHE SECRET HOUSEKATE, PLUS TENLIEUTENANT BONESTHE ADVENTURES OF HEINEJACK O' JUDGMENTTHE DAFFODIL MYSTERYTHE NINE BEARSTHE BOOK OF ALL POWERMR. JUSTICE MAXELLTHE BOOKS OF BARTTHE DARK EYES OF LONDONCHICKSANDI, THE KING-MAKERTHE THREE OAK MYSTERYTHE FELLOWSHIP OF THE FROGBLUE HANDGREY TIMOTHYA DEBT DISCHARGEDTHOSE FOLK OF BULBORO'THE MAN WHO WAS NOBODYTHE GREEN RUSTTHE FOURTH PLAGUETHE RIVER OF STARS
[1]Allamandi—German territory.
[1]Allamandi—German territory.
[2]That which I call the Akasava proper is the very small, dominant clan of a tribe which is loosely called "Akasava," but is really Bowongo.
[2]That which I call the Akasava proper is the very small, dominant clan of a tribe which is loosely called "Akasava," but is really Bowongo.
[3]"Book" means any written thing. A "Note" is a book.
[3]"Book" means any written thing. A "Note" is a book.
[4]The stone breaker, the native name for the Congo Government.
[4]The stone breaker, the native name for the Congo Government.
[5]Probably a corruption of the word "English."
[5]Probably a corruption of the word "English."
[6]The territories are invariably named after the principal city, which is sometimes, perhaps, a little misleading.—E. W.
[6]The territories are invariably named after the principal city, which is sometimes, perhaps, a little misleading.—E. W.
[7]See"The Right of Way."
[7]See"The Right of Way."
[8]Palaver.
[8]Palaver.
[9]The motor-launch.
[9]The motor-launch.
[10]Chronicles II., ix. 29.
[10]Chronicles II., ix. 29.
[11]Numbers xxi. 17.
[11]Numbers xxi. 17.
[12]"Lilongo" is from the noun "balongo"—blood, and means literally "he-who-breaks-blood-friendships."—E. W.
[12]"Lilongo" is from the noun "balongo"—blood, and means literally "he-who-breaks-blood-friendships."—E. W.
Every effort has been made to remain true to the original text; minor changes have been made to regularize spelling and hyphenation within the book.