Victor Durnovo took off his hat with a sweep and a flourish, and, raising his bared brow to the stars, he said, “I swear to hold to that agreement. If I fail, may God strike me dead!” CHAPTER XIV. PANIC-STRICKEN Is this reason? Is this humanity? Alas! it is man. The next morning Jack Meredith was awakened by his servant Joseph before it was fully light. It would appear as if Joseph had taken no means of awakening him, for Meredith awoke quite quietly to find Joseph standing by his bed. “Holloa!” exclaimed the master, fully awake at once, as townsmen are. Joseph stood at attention by the bedside. “Woke you before yer time, sir,” he said. “There's something wrong among these 'ere darkie fellers, sir.” “Wrong! what do you mean?” Meredith was already lacing his shoes. “Not rebellion?” he said curtly, looking towards his firearms. “No, sir, not that. It's some mortual sickness. I don't know what it is. I've been up half the night with them. It's spreading, too.” “Sickness! what does it seem like? Just give me that jacket. Not that sleeping sickness?” “No, sir. It's not that. Missis Marie was telling me about that--awful scourge that, sir. No, the poor chaps are wide-awake enough. Groanin', and off their heads too, mostly.” “Have you called Mr. Oscard?” “No, sir.” “Call him and Mr. Durnovo.” “Met Mr. Durnovo, sir, goin' out as I came in.” In a few moments Jack joined Durnovo and Oscard, who were talking together on the terrace in front of the house. Guy Oscard was still in his pyjamas, which he had tucked into top-boots. He also wore a sun-helmet, which added a finish to his costume. They got quite accustomed to this get-up during the next three days, for he never had time to change it; and, somehow, it ceased to be humorous long before the end of that time. “Oh, it's nothing,” Durnovo was saying, with a singular eagerness. “I know these chaps. They have been paid in advance. They are probably shamming, and if they are not they are only suffering from the effects of a farewell glorification. They want to delay our start. That is their little game. It will give them a better chance of deserting.” “At any rate, we had better go and see them,” suggested Jack. “No, don't!” cried Durnovo eagerly, detaining him with both hands. “Take my advice, and don't. Just have breakfast in the ordinary way and pretend there is nothing wrong. Then afterwards you can lounge casually into the camp.” “All right,” said Jack, rather unwillingly. “It has been of some use--this scare,” said Durnovo, turning and looking towards the river. “It has reminded me of something. We have not nearly enough quinine. I will just take a quick canoe, and run down to Loango to fetch some.” He turned quite away from them, and stooped to attach the lace of his boot. “I can travel night and day, and be back here in three days,” he added. “In the meantime you can be getting on with the loading of the canoes, and we will start as soon as I get back.”