executed or obtained in Constantinople by my uncle。 Well； there was a
fearful smash。 Writs were taken out against my uncle； but before they
could be served； he died suddenly of heart disease。 I was with him at
the time and he kept saying he saw that gold mask which Jeekie calls
Bonsa； the thing you took back to Africa。 He had a fine funeral； for
what he had done was not publicly known； and when his will was opened
I found that he had left me his fortune； but made Lord Aylward there
my trustee until I came to the full age of twenty…five under my
father's will。 Alan； don't force me to tell you what sort of a
guardian he was to me； also there was no fortune； it had all gone；
also I had very； very little left； for almost all my own money had
gone too。 In his despair he had forged papers to get it in order to
support those Sahara Syndicate shares。 Still I managed to borrow about
￡2000 from that little lawyer out of the ￡5000 that remain to me； an
independent sum which he was unable to touch； and； Alan； with it I
came to find you。
〃Alan； Lord Aylward followed me； although everybody else was ruined；
he remained rich； very very rich； they say； and his fancy was to marry
me； also I think it was not comfortable for him in England。 It is a
long tale； but I got up here with about five…and…twenty servants； and
Snell； my maid； whom you remember。 Then we were both taken ill with
some dreadful fever and had it not been for those good black people； I
should have died； for I have been very sick； Alan。 But they nursed me
and I recovered； it was poor Snell who died； they buried her a few
days ago。 I thought that she would live； but she had a relapse。 Next
Lord Aylward appeared with twelve soldiers and some porters who； I
believe； have run away now；oh！ you can guess； you can guess。 He
wanted my people to carry me away somewhere； to the coast； I suppose；
but they were faithful to me and would not。 Then he set his soldiers
on to maltreat them。 They shot several of them and flogged them on
every opportunity； they were flogging one of them just now； I heard
them。 Well； the poor men made me understand that they could bear it no
longer and must do what he told them。
〃And so； Alan； as I was quite hopeless and helpless； I made up my mind
to kill myself； hoping that God would forgive me and that I should
find you somewhere； perhaps after sleeping a while； for it was better
to die than to be given into the powerof that man。 I thought that he
was coming for me just now and I was about to do it； but it was you
instead； Alan； /you/； and only just in time。 That is all the story；
and I hope you will not think that I have acted very foolishly； but I
did it for the best。 If you only knew what I have suffered； Alan； what
I have gone through in one way and another； I am sure that you would
not judge me harshly； also I kept dreaming that you were in trouble
and wanted me to come to you； and of course I knew where you were gone
and had that map。 Send him away； Alan； for I am still so weak and I
cannot bear the sight of his face。 If you knew everything； you would
understand。〃
Alan turned on Aylward and in a cold； quiet voice asked him what he
had to say to this story。
〃I have to say； Major Vernon； that it is a clever mixture of truth and
falsehood。 It is true that your cousin； Champers…Haswell； has been
proved guilty of some very shameful conduct。 For instance it appears
that he did forge； or rather cause to be forged that Firman from the
Sultan； although I knew nothing of this until it was publicly
repudiated。 It is also true that fearing exposure he entirely lost his
head and spent not only his own great fortune but that of Miss
Champers also； in trying to support Sahara shares。 I admit also that I
sold many hundreds of thousands of those shares in the ordinary way；
having made up my mind to retire from business when I was raised to
the peerage。 I admit further； what you knew before； that I was
attached to Miss Champers and wished to marry her。 Why should I not；
especially as I had a good deal to offer to a lady who has been proved
to be almost without fortune？
〃For the rest she set out secretly on this mad journey to Africa；
whither both my duty as her trustee and my affection prompted me to
follow her。 I found her here recovering from an illness； and since she
has dwelt upon the point； in self…defence I must tell you that
whatever has taken place between us； has been with her full consent
and encouragement。 Of course I allude only to those affectionate
amenities which are common between people who purpose to marry as soon
as opportunity may offer。〃
At this declaration poor Barbara gasped and leaned back against her
pillow。 Alan stood silent； though his lips turned white； while Jeekie
thrust his big head through the tent opening and stared upwards。
〃What are you looking at； Jeekie？〃 asked Alan irritably。
〃Seem to want air； Major； also look to see if clouds tumble。 Believe
partickler big lie do that sometimes。 Please go on； O good Lord； for
Jeekie want his breakfast。〃
〃As regards the execution of two of Miss Champers' bearers and the
flogging of some others； these punishments were inflicted for mutiny；〃
went on Aylward。 〃It was obviously necessary that she should be moved
back to the coast； but I found out that they were trying to desert her
in a body and to tamper with my own servants； and so was obliged to
take strong measures。〃
〃Sure those clouds come down now；〃 soliloquized Jeekie； 〃or least
something rummy happen。〃
〃I have only to add； Major Vernon； that unless you make away with me
first； as I daresay you will； as soon as we reach civilization again I
shall proceed against you and this fellow for the cold…blooded murder
of my men； in punishment of which I hope yet to live to see you
hanged。 Meanwhile； I have much pleasure in releasing Miss Champers
from her engagement to me which； whatever she may have said to you in
England； she was glad enough to enter on here in Africa； a country of
which I have been told the climate frequently deteriorates the moral
character。〃
〃Hear； hear！〃 ejaculated Jeekie； 〃he say something true at last； by
accident； I think； like pig what find pearl in muck…heap。〃
〃Hold your tongue； Jeekie；〃 said Alan。 〃I do not intend to kill you；
Lord Aylward； or to do you any harm〃
〃Nor I neither；〃 broke in Jeekie； 〃all I do to my Lord just for my
Lord's good； who Jeekie that he wish to hurt noble British
'ristocrat？〃
〃But I do intend that it shall be impossible that Miss Champers should
be forced to listen to more of your insults；〃 went on Alan； 〃and to
make sure that your gun does not go off again as it did this morning。
So； Lord Aylward； until we have settled what we are going to do； I
must keep you under arrest。 Take him to his tent； Jeekie； and put a
guard over him。〃
〃Yes； Major； certainly； Major。 Right turn； march！ my Lord； and quick；
please； since poor； common Jeekie not want dirty his black finger
touching you。〃
Aylward obeyed； but at the door of the tent swung round and favoured
Alan with a very evil look。
〃Luck is with you for the moment； Major Vernon；〃 he said； 〃but if you
are wise you will remember that you never have been and never will be
my match。 It will turn again； I have no doubt； and then you may look
to yourself； for I warn you I am a bad enemy。〃
Alan did not answer； but for the first time Barbara sprang to her feet
and spoke。
〃You mean that you are a bad man； Lord Aylward； and a coward too； or
otherwise you would not have tortured me as you have done。 Well； when
it seemed impossible that I should escape from you except in one way；
I was saved by another way of which I never dreamed。 Now I tell you
that I do not fear you any more。 But I think；〃 she added slowly； 〃that
you would do well to fear for yourself。 I don't know why； but it comes
into my mind that though neither Alan nor I shall lift a finger
against you； you have a great deal of which to be afraid。 Remember
what I said to you months ago when you were angry because I would not
marry you。 I believe it is all coming true； Lord Aylward。〃
Then Barbara turned her back upon him； and that was the last time that
either she or Alan ever saw his face。
He was gone； and Barbara； her head upon her lover's shoulder and her
sweet eyes filled with tears of joy and gratitude； was beginning to
tell him everything that had befallen her when suddenly they heard a
loud cough outside the tent。
〃It's that confounded Jeekie；〃 said Alan； and he called to him to come
in。
〃What's the matter now？〃 he asked crossly。
〃Breakfast； Major。 His lordship got plenty good stores； borrow some
from him and give him chit。 Coming in one minutehot coffee； kipper
herring； rasher bacon； also butter （best Danish）； and Bath Oliver
biscuit。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Alan； but Jeekie did not move。
〃Very well；〃 repeated Alan。
〃No； Major； not very well； very ill。 Thought those lies bring down
clouds。〃
〃What do you mean； Jeekie？〃
〃Mean； Major； that Asiki smelling about this camp。 Porter…man what go
to fetch water see them。 Also believe they catch rest of those soldier
chaps and polish them； for porter…man hear the row。〃
Alan sprang