"I shall never be surprised to learn that a war has been going on in the N'gombi for two months without our hearing a word about it." "If they fight amongst themselves--yes," said Captain Hamilton; "if they fight outsiders, there will be plenty of bleats. Why not send Bones to overlook his sugar experiments," he added. "Let's talk about something pleasant," said Bones hastily. It was exactly three months later when he actually made the trip. "Take the _Zaire_ up to the bend of the Isisi," said Sanders one morning, at breakfast, "and find out what Ali Kano is doing--the lazy beggar should have reported." "Any news from the N'gombi?" asked Hamilton. "Only roundabout stories of their industry. Apparently the sugar merchant is making big experiments. He has set half the people digging roots for him. Be ready to sail at dawn." "Will it be a dangerous trip?" asked the girl. "No. Why?" smiled Sanders. "Because I'd like to go. Oh, please, don't look so glum! Bones is awfully good to me." "Better than a jolly old brother," murmured Bones. "H'm!" Sanders shook his head, and she appealed to her brother. "Please!" "I wouldn't mind your going," said Hamilton, "if only to look after Bones." "S-sh!" said Bones reproachfully. "If you're keen on it, I don't see why you shouldn't--if you had a chaperon." "A chaperon!" sneered Bones. "Great Heavens! Do, old skipper, pull yourself together. Open the jolly old window and give him air. Feelin' better, sir?" "A chaperon! How absurd!" cried the girl indignantly. "I'm old enough to be Bones's mother! I'm nearly twenty--well, I'm older than Bones, and I'm ever so much more capable of looking after myself." The end of it was that she went, with her Kano maid and with the wife of Abiboo to cook for her. And in two days they came to the bend of the river, and Bones pursued his inquiries for the missing spy, but without success. "But this I tell you, lord," said the little chief who acted as Sanders's agent, "that there are strange things happening in the N'gombi country, for all the people have gone mad, and are digging up their teeth (tusks) and bringing them to a white man." "This shall go to Sandi," said Bones, realizing the importance of the news; and that same evening he turned the bow of the _Zaire_ down stream. * * * * * Thus said Wafa, the half-breed, for he was neither foreign Arab nor native N'gombi, yet combined the cunning of both-- "Soon we shall see the puc-a-puc of Government turn from the crookedness of the river, and I will go out and speak to our lord Tibbetti, who is a very simple man, and like a child." "O Wafa," said one of the group of armed men which stood shivering on the beach in the cold hours of dawn, "may this be a good palaver! As for me, my stomach is filled with fearfulness. Let us all drink this magic water, for it gives us men courage."