“Ah, how many men do you carry?” demanded the manager, his courage visibly returning. “Blessed if I know,” replied his lordship. “How many men have we, doctor?” “I never counted them, sir,” replied the doctor with a noncommittal air of indifference. “They are scattered over the face of the country,” continued the chief. “Many of them are woodmen, and the rest are gamekeepers from my own estates in England. They can all shoot a bit--trust a gamekeeper for that.” “And is your yacht built on the model of this boat of yours?” “No. As I told you, it is built for comfort. I’d like very much to show her to you if you will honor me with a visit. Indeed, it is getting near to midday, so I should be delighted if you three gentlemen would be good enough to lunch with me. I can promise you a passable meal, some excellent wine, and cigars that will call up recollections of Havana.” The manager whispered to the captain, who somewhat doubtfully nodded his head, as who would say: “Well, I suppose we’d better see what’s in this, anyway.” The manager then spoke up: “Thank you, sir,” he said. “We’ll be very glad of a bite and a drink and a smoke. My friend here is captain of the _Rajah_, and this is Mr. Thompson, the mate. I am Frowningshield, representing the owners of this district.” “Delighted to make your acquaintance, gentlemen. My name is Stranleigh.” “And a very well-known name in Africa, Mr. Stanley.” “S-t-r-a-n-l-e-i-g-h,” spelled his lordship. “I cannot claim the distinction of being a namesake of the explorer.” “May I inquire the object of your visit in these regions?” asked the manager. “In a small way I am looking after big game, and so carry some of my gamekeepers with me. Then again, as you are probably aware, I am interested in timber, hence my woodmen with their axes and saws. We have cut a considerable quantity of firewood, with which we hope to supplement our coal. My third object may strike you as largely impractical. I had some thoughts of founding a settlement here, or on any other healthy and suitable spot not too far from the coast. I am delighted with this section of the country. Back in the hills while shooting I have discovered several waterfalls which could supply cheap power. Some days ago I gave orders to my woodmen to prepare logs for the building of huts. I was away shooting at the time they began operations, and I fear rather neglecting my duties as a settlement founder. Be that as it may, they piled the logs too near the brink of the river, where the incline is steep. This morning, like the Gadarene swine, the logs seem to have tumbled one after another into the water. I suppose one heap set another going. As I tell you, I was absent, but when word was brought to me, I took this launch and followed down the river, thinking perhaps the sawn logs had lodged or jammed somewhere, and might be towed back; but if, as you say, they are already in the ocean, I fear they are lost to us, and we’ll need to cut some more.”