"The dickens!" exclaimed Grosvenor. "But why, my dear sir, why?" "Well--if you will not be offended by my exceeding candour--chiefly because I think you both much too young and too inexperienced to have any chance of succeeding in so very formidable an undertaking," was the somewhat discouraging reply. "Yes, of course," admitted Grosvenor, "it is true that we are both quite inexperienced; but our youth is surely in our favour rather than against us, for we are strong and healthy, and no doubt will soon become inured to fatigue, hardship, and even privation. We both have splendid constitutions; and, moreover, my friend Maitland here is a doctor and surgeon of quite remarkable ability, which fact I regard as of the utmost importance. Then, as to the matter of experience, I imagine that we are bound to acquire that as we go on; we are not going to be transported into the heart of the wilds in a few hours by express train, you know." "No," answered Mitchell, with a somewhat grim smile, "that is quite true, as is also your contention that you will acquire some experience as you go on. Then, of course, the fact that Mr Maitland is a doctor and surgeon--of which I was unaware--is a great point in your favour. But, when all is said, I still think that you will find the undertaking too much for you. Why-- By the way, did you ever hear of a certain Charles Menzies?" "The explorer, you mean? Yes, I have heard of him; in fact I believe it was an account of his travels that first put this idea into my head," answered Grosvenor. "Ah!" remarked Mitchell cryptically; "I wonder just how much you have heard respecting his travels?" "Well, not very much, I must confess," acknowledged Grosvenor. "So far as I can remember, it amounted simply to the statement that after one of his long absences from civilisation he returned with the story that he had actually discovered the site of ancient Ophir; and that he had gathered reliable information concerning the existence of the mysterious white race, which is to be one of the objects of my quest." "Just so," commented Mitchell, relapsing into a pregnant silence. It was evident that he was intently considering some difficult question. Presently he looked up and said: