A swift scraping of feet and of chairs pushed back and they all stood in mute acclaim of Lindsey's sentiments, subscribed with him to the Major's refusal to believe that ill had befallen him whom they had assembled to avenge. Seated again they watched Lindsey, who remained standing while the Chino refilled the glasses. Lindsey spoke again. "I ask you now to pledge the only man I know whose bravery, sincerity and friendship are of a quality to fit him to be the chief of him to whom it was just now our honor to do honor. "Gentlemen ... Major John Bronner, P. C.!" The response was a thrilling tribute to the flushed officer who remained seated until the clamor had subsided, then bowed his embarrassed gratitude. They crowded around him as he rose to go, each offering advice and warnings, wringing his big hand. Boynton drew him a little aside. "Major," he said earnestly, "I hope you find him--all right--not--not hurt. He was fine to me--I came near making an awful mistake--about a native woman. But he came to me and talked me out of it--spent the night with me, talking about his mother ... she died when he was a little shaver ... and he talked about clean living, and the duty of carrying on your white blood unpolluted. He didn't preach--just talked sense, and was awfully--friendly. I quit the dame cold!" Gripping Bronner's hand, Boynton left the room. Lindsey accompanied the Major to the door and into the reading room, pointing to the placard tacked up under the skin of the python. "You remember the wording of the first sign? 'Major Bronner owes his life to the wonderful pistol marksmanship of his friend, Lieut. Richard Terry, P. C.' He was here the night that Malabanan broke loose--you will hear about that night of his in the Club--and the next day we found that he had changed the placard. Look." He pulled the Major over and they read: This python, the largest but one measured since American occupation, was killed on the plantation of Mr. Eric Lindsey. Length...................24 ft., 9 inches Diameter, thickest..............14 inches "We didn't see him do it, but we knew he must have been the one who changed it. As that's the way he wanted it, we can't change it--now." Grief shadowed his earnest countenance again as he faced the Major: "Don't you think that in view of my friendship for him--and for you--that I am entitled to go up with you?" "No, that's all settled, Lindsey." The Major passed out, but pausing on the dark walk in front of the building to relight his cigar, he heard Lindsey outlining plans for the campaign the planters would undertake if the Major had not returned at the end of two weeks. * * * * *