"Let bygones be bygones, dear old friend," begged Bones. "And when I asked you to produce the company pay-sheets, which you forgot to bring up to date, you stared at me!" "It's a gift," said Bones feebly. "Oh, Bones," said the girl slowly, "you stared at me, too, after I refused to go picnicking with you on the beach." "All's fair in love an' war," said Bones vaguely. "It's a wonderful gift." "Have you ever mesmerized anybody?" asked Hamilton curiously, and Bones brightened up. "Rather, dear old sir," he said. "Jolly old Ali, my secretary--goes off in a regular trance on the slightest provocation. Fact, dear old Ham." Hamilton clapped his hands, and his orderly, dozing in the shade of the verandah, rose up. "Go, bring Ali Abid," said Hamilton. And when the man had gone: "Are you under the illusion that you made the sentry present arms to you, and Abiboo's woman dance for you, by the magic of your eye?" "You saw," said the complacent Bones. "It's a wonderful gift, dear old Ham. As soon as I read the article, I tried it on Ali. Got him, first pop!" The girl was bubbling with suppressed laughter, and there was a twinkle in Sanders's eye. "I recall that you saw me in connection with shooting leave in the N'gombi." "Yes, sir and Excellency," said the miserable Bones. "And I said that I thought it inadvisable, because of the trouble in the bend of the Isisi River." "Yes, Excellency and sir," agreed Bones dolefully. "And then you stared." "Did I, dear old--Did I, sir?" His embarrassment was relieved by the arrival of Ali. So buoyant a soul had Bones, that from the deeps of despair into which he was beginning to sink he rose to heights of confidence, not to say self-assurance, that were positively staggering. "Miss Patricia, ladies and gentlemen," said Bones briskly, "we have here Ali Abid, confidential servant and faithful retainer. I will now endeavour to demonstrate the power of the human eye." He met the stolid gaze of Ali and stared. He stared terribly and alarmingly, and Ali, to do him justice, stared back. "Close your eyes," commanded Bones. "You can't open them, can you?" "Sir," said Ali, "optics of subject are hermetically sealed." "I will now put him in a trance," said Bones, and waved his hand mysteriously. Ali rocked backward and forward, and would have fallen but for the supporting arm of the demonstrator. "He is now insensible to pain," said Bones proudly. "Lend me your hatpin, Pat," said Hamilton. "I will now awaken him," said Bones hastily, and snapped his fingers. Ali rose to his feet with great dignity. "Thank you, Ali; you may go," said his master, and turned, ready to receive the congratulations of the party. "Do you seriously believe that you mesmerized that humbug?" Bones drew himself erect. "Sir and captain," he said stiffly, "do you suggest I am a jolly old impostor? You saw the sentry, sir, you saw the woman, sir."