CHAPTER IV
Trent moved forward and greeted the newcomer awkwardly. "You're CaptainFrancis," he said. "We've been waiting for you."
The statement appeared to annoy the Explorer. He looked nervously at thetwo men and about the hut.
"I don't know how the devil you got to hear of my coming, or what youwant with me," he answered brusquely. "Are you both English?"
Trent assented, waving his hand towards his companion in introductoryfashion.
"That's my pal, Monty," he said. "We're both English right enough."
Monty raised a flushed face and gazed with bloodshot eyes at the manwho was surveying him so calmly. Then he gave a little gurgling cry andturned away. Captain Francis started and moved a step towards him. Therewas a puzzled look in his face--as though he were making an effort torecall something familiar.
"What is the matter with him?" he asked Trent.
"Drink!"
"Then why the devil don't you see that he doesn't get too much?" thenewcomer said sharply. "Don't you know what it means in this climate?Why, he's on the high-road to a fever now. Who on this earth is it hereminds me of?"
Trent laughed shortly.
"There's never a man in Buckomari--no, nor in all Africa--could keepMonty from the drink," he said. "Live with him for a month and try it.It wouldn't suit you--I don't think."
He glanced disdainfully at the smooth face and careful dress of theirvisitor, who bore the inspection with a kindly return of contempt.
"I've no desire to try," he said; "but he reminds me very strongly ofsome one I knew in England. What do you call him--Monty?"
Trent nodded.
"Never heard any other name," he said.
"Have you ever heard him speak of England?" Francis asked.
Trent hesitated. What was this newcomer to him that he should give awayhis pal? Less than nothing! He hated the fellow already, with a rough,sensitive man's contempt of a bearing and manners far above his own.
"Never. He don't talk."
Captain Francis moved a step towards the huddled-up figure breathingheavily upon the floor, but Trent, leaning over, stopped him.
"Let him be," he said gruffly. "I know enough of him to be sure that heneeds no one prying and ferreting into his affairs. Besides, it isn'tsafe for us to be dawdling about here. How many soldiers have youbrought with you?"
"Two hundred," Captain Francis answered shortly.
Trent whistled.
"We're all right for a bit, then," he said; "but it's a pretty sort of apicnic you're on, eh?"
"Never mind my business," Captain Francis answered curtly; "what aboutyours? Why have you been hanging about here for me?"
"I'll show you," Trent answered, taking a paper from his knapsack. "Yousee, it's like this. There are two places near this show where I'vefound gold. No use blowing about it down at Buckomari--the fellows therehaven't the nerve of a kitten. This cursed climate has sapped it all outof them, I reckon. Monty and I clubbed together and bought presentsfor his Majesty, the boss here, and Monty wrote out this littledocument--sort of concession to us to sink mines and work them, you see.The old buffer signed it like winking, directly he spotted the rum, butwe ain't quite happy about it; you see, it ain't to be supposed thathe's got a conscience, and there's only us saw him put his mark there.We'll have to raise money to work the thing upon this, and maybethere'll be difficulties. So what we thought was this. Here's an Englishofficer coming; let's get him to witness it, and then if the King don'tgo on the square, why, it's a Government matter."
Captain Francis lit a cigarette and smoked thoughtfully for a moment ortwo.
"I don't quite see," he said, "why we should risk a row for the sake ofyou two."
Trent snorted.
"Look here," he said; "I suppose you know your business. You don'twant me to tell you that a decent excuse for having a row with this oldJohnny is about the best thing that could happen to you. He's a bit toonear the borders of civilisation to be a decent savage. Sooner or latersome one will have to take him under their protection. If you don'tdo it, the French will. They're hanging round now looking out for anopportunity. Listen!"
Both men moved instinctively towards the open part of the hut and lookedacross towards the village. Up from the little open space in frontof the King's dwelling-house leaped a hissing bright flame; theyhad kindled a fire, and black forms of men, stark naked and woundingthemselves with spears, danced around it and made the air hideous withdiscordant cries. The King himself, too drunk to stand, squatted uponthe ground with an empty bottle by his side. A breath of wind brought astrong, noxious odour to the two men who stood watching. Captain Francispuffed hard at his cigarette.
"Ugh!" he muttered; "beastly!"
"You may take my word for it," Trent said gruffly, "that if your twohundred soldiers weren't camped in the bush yonder, you and I and poorMonty would be making sport for them to-night. Now come. Do you think aquarrel with that crew is a serious thing to risk?"
"In the interests of civilisation," Captain Francis answered, with asmile, "I think not."
"I don't care how you put it," Trent answered shortly. "You soldiers allprate of the interests of civilisation. Of course it's all rot. You wantthe land--you want to rule, to plant a flag, and be called a patriot."
Captain Francis laughed. "And you, my superior friend," he said,glancing at Trent, gaunt, ragged, not too clean, and back at Monty--"youwant gold--honestly if you can get it, if not--well, it is not too wiseto ask. Your partnership is a little mysterious, isn't it--with a manlike that? Out of your magnificent morality I trust that he may get hisshare."
Trent flushed a brick-red. An angry answer trembled upon his lips, butOom Sam, white and with his little fat body quivering with fear, camehurrying up to them in the broad track of the moonlight.
"King he angry," he called out to them breathlessly. "Him mad drunkangry. He say white men all go away, or he fire bush and use thepoisoned arrow. Me off! Got bearers waiting."
"If you go before we've finished," Trent said, "I'll not pay you apenny. Please yourself."
The little fat man trembled--partly with rage, partly with fear.
"You stay any longer," he said, "and King him send after you and kill onway home. White English soldiers go Buckomari with you?"
Trent shook his head.
"Going the other way," he said, "down to Wana Hill."
Oom Sam shook his head vigorously.
"Now you mind," he said; "I tell you, King send after you. Him blindmad."
Oom Sam scuttled away. Captain Francis looked thoughtful. "That littlefat chap may be right," he remarked. "If I were you I'd get out of thissharp. You see, I'm going the other way. I can't help you."
Trent set his teeth.
"I've spent a good few years trying to put a bit together, and this isthe first chance I've had," he said; "I'm going to have you back me asa British subject on that concession. We'll go down into the village nowif you're ready."
"I'll get an escort," Francis said. "Best to impress 'em a bit, I think.Half a minute."
He stepped back into the hut and looked steadfastly at the man who wasstill lying doubled up upon the floor. Was it his fancy, or had thoseeyes closed swiftly at his turning--was it by accident, too, that Monty,with a little groan, changed his position at that moment, so that hisface was in the shadow? Captain Francis was puzzled.
"It's like him," he said to himself softly; "but after all the thing'stoo improbable!"
He turned away with a shade upon his face and followed Trent out intothe moonlight. The screeching from the village below grew louder andmore hideous every minute.