assistance, but after that period we shall be forced to
surrender or to try and cut our way through WITHOUT the Simiacine. With
a larger force we could beat back the tribes, and establish our hold on
the Plateau by force of arms. This must be forwarded to Mr. Durnovo
at once, wherever he is. The letter is in duplicate, sent by two good
messengers, who go by different routes.

"JOHN MEREDITH."

When Jocelyn looked up, dry-lipped, breathless, Nala was standing before
her, beaming with self-importance.

"Who gave you this?"

"Marie at Msala."

"Who is she?"

"Oh--Mr. Durnovo's woman at Msala. She keeps his house."

"But this letter is for Mr. Durnovo," cried Jocelyn, whose fear made her
unreasonably angry. "Why has he not had it?"

Nala came nearer, with upraised forefinger and explanatory palm.

"Marie tell me," he said, "that Mr. Meredith send two letters. Marie
give Mr. Durnovo one. This--other letter."

There was a strange glitter in the girl's blue eyes--something steely
and unpleasant.

"You are sure of that? You are quite sure that Mr. Durnovo has had a
letter like this?" she asked slowly and carefully, so that there could
be no mistake.

"That is true," answered the man.

"Have you any more news from Msala?"

Nala looked slightly hurt. He evidently thought that he had brought as
much news as one man could be expected to carry.

"Marie has heard," he said, "that there is much fighting up in the
country."

"She has heard no particulars--nothing more than that?"

"No: nothing."

Jocelyn Gordon rose to this occasion also.

"Can you go," she said, after a moment's thought, "to St. Paul de Loanda
for me?"

The man laughed.

"Yes," he answered simply.

"At once--now?"

"Oh, yes," with a sigh.

Already Jocelyn was writing something on a sheet of paper.

"Take this," she said, "to the telegraph office at St. Paul de Loanda,
and send it off at once. Here is money. You understand? I will pay you
when you bring back the receipt. If you have been very quick, I will pay
you well."

That same evening a second messenger started northward after Maurice
Gordon with a letter telling him to come back at once to Loango.

CHAPTER XXIV. NEMESIS

Take heed of still waters.

Despite his assertion to Lady Cantourne, Guy Oscard stayed on in the
gloomy house in Russell Square. He had naturally gone thither on his
return from Africa, and during the months