atter with master, I can
only respectfully mention that I take it to be a general kerlapse of
the system, brought on, no doubt, by too long a living in the unhealthy
platters of Central Africa. When I gets him to Loango I shall go
straight to the house of Mr. and Miss Gordon, where we stayed before,
and with no fear but what we will be received with every kindness and
the greatest hospitality. Thank God, honoured sir, I've kept my health
and strength wonderful, and am therefore more able to look after master.
When we reach Loango I shall ask Miss Gordon kindly to write to you,
sir, seeing as I have no great facility with my pen.--I am, honoured
sir, your respectful servant to command,

"JOSEPH ATKINSON,
"Late Corporal 217th Regt."

There were one or two round splashes on the paper suggestive, perhaps,
of tears, but not indicative of those useless tributes. The truth was
that it was a hot evening, and Joseph had, as he confessed, but little
facility with the pen.

"There," said the scribe, with a smile of intense satisfaction. "That
will give the old 'un beans. Not that I don't respect him--oh no."

He paused, and gazed thoughtfully at the evening star.

"Strange thing--life," he muttered, "uncommon strange. Perhaps the
old 'un is right; there's no knowin'. The ways o' Providence ARE
mysterious--onnecessarily mysterious to my thinkin'."

And he shook his head at the evening star, as if he was not quite
pleased with it.

With a feeling of considerable satisfaction, Joseph approached the
Bungalow at Loango three days later. The short sea voyage had somewhat
revived Meredith, who had been desirous of walking up from the beach,
but after a short attempt had been compelled to enter the spring cart
which Joseph had secured.

Joseph walked by the side of this cart with an erect carriage, and a
suppressed importance suggestive of ambulance duty in the old days.

As the somewhat melancholy cortege approached the house, Meredith drew
back the dusky brown holland curtain and looked anxiously out. Nor
were Joseph's eyes devoid of expectation. He thought that Jocelyn would
presently emerge from the flower-hung trellis of the verandah; and he
had rehearsed over and over again a neat, respectful speech, explanatory
of his action in bringing a sick man to the house.

But the hanging fronds of flowers and leaf remained motionless, and the
cart drove, unchallenged, round to th