orrow when the sun is nearly down, I will
come again and tell you more...."

Bones left before daybreak, having all the material he wanted for his
book and more.

He took his time descending the river, calling at sundry places.

At Ikan he tied up the _Zaire_ for the night, and whilst his men were
carrying the wood aboard, he settled himself to put down the gist of his
discoveries. In the midst of his labours came Abiboo.

"Lord," said he, "there has just come by a fast canoe the woman who
spoke with you last night."

"Jumping Moses!" said Bones, turning pale, "say to this woman that I am
gone----"

But the woman came round the corner of the deck-house, shyly, yet with a
certain confidence.

"Lord," she said, "behold I am here, your poor slave; there are
wonderful things about women which I have not told you----"

"O, D'riti!" said Bones in despair, "I know all things, and it is not
lawful that you should follow me so far from your home lest evil be said
of you."

He sent her to the hut of the chief's wife--M'lini-fo-bini of Ikan--with
instructions that she was to be returned to her home on the following
morning. Then he went back to his work, but found it strangely
distasteful. He left nothing to chance the next day.

With the dawn he slipped down the river at full speed, never so much as
halting till day began to fail, and he was a short day's journey from
headquarters.

"Anyhow, the poor dear won't overtake me to-day," he said--only to find
the "poor dear" had stowed herself away on the steamer in the night
behind a pile of wood.

* * * * *

"It's very awkward," said Hamilton, and coughed.

Bones looked at his chief pathetically.

"It's doocid awkward, sir," he agreed dismally.

"You say she won't go back?"

Bones shook his head.

"She said I'm the moon and the sun an' all sorts of rotten things to
her, sir," he groaned and wiped his forehead.

"Send her to me," said Hamilton.

"Be kind to her, sir," pleaded the miserable Bones. "After all, sir, the
poor girl seems to be fond of me, sir--the human heart, sir--I don't
know why she should take a fancy to me."

"That's what I want to know," said Hamilton, briefly; "if she _is_ mad,
I'll send her to the mission hospital along the Coast."

"You've a hard and bitter heart," said Bones, sadly.

D'riti came ready to flash her anger and eloquence at Hamilton; on the
verge of defiance.

"D'riti," said Hamilton, "t