ll." And still he refused to
be drawn. "You were looking very grave. Were you wondering what you
are here for too?"

At that moment they reached a spot where the path divided into two:
one fork leading to their tent and the other to the police camp. He
stood still. "I believe I was considering the best solution to a
native problem that has lately arisen." He glanced towards their tent.
"I see Mr. Stanley is helping to arrange your camp. Please let him
know of anything you want. You will find him an excellent guide."
Then, scarcely looking at her, he saluted and walked away.

Diana returned to their tent feeling baffled and interested,
half-inclined to be cross and half-inclined to laugh. And almost at
the same time from the other direction came Meryl.

"O, it's wonderful!" Meryl cried softly, with all her face aglow. "I
never imagined anything half so fascinating; and I haven't even seen
the temple yet. Mr. Stanley, do stay and dine with us. Our cook-boy is
quite good."

"All except his soup," put in Diana, "and he is only good at that in
the sense of making it out of nothing. Sometimes I think he just boils
a bit of the harness, or a corner of the tent-flap, or probably he
makes it of rats if he can catch enough."

Stanley looked at her with all his eyes and accepted the invitation
eagerly, saying that he must first go back to the camp to change. Half
an hour later he reappeared, looking quite smart in a white duck
dress-jacket and a starched collar.

As they sat down to their alfresco meal, taken under the stars, with
two lanterns suspended on sticks for lights, Diana suddenly said to
him:

"Who is the bear?..."

"The bear?..." doubtfully.

"Yes. The bear who lives down there in the police camp, and rejoices
in the name of Carew."

Stanley, looking much amused, replied, "You must mean the Major; but
you haven't met him, have you?"

"I had the pleasure of being snarled at for about fifteen minutes this
afternoon."

Stanley laughed outright. "But where? He never said that he had seen
you."

"I don't think he did see me. We merely met. Most of the time he
either looked away or looked through me at something beyond. Still, he
might have mentioned the meeting. I don't feel flattered."

"O, but that is nothing with Carew. He is an awfully silent chap."

"Silent!... do you call it?... I never felt so ... so ... suppressed
... in my life. I thought he seemed rather inclined to bite me."

"But where did