And no sooner had Meryl remarked that there were no lions near them,
than she could not for the life of her help murmuring, "No lions, only
bears."

Again there was an instant's answering gleam in Carew's eyes, but he
only smiled very slightly, and said, "Perhaps a bear's growl, like a
dog's bark, is worse than his bite."

It was as though something altogether too much for him was struggling
with an inclination to relax just the least bit on Diana's behalf and
insistently conquering. With scarcely a second look at her he drew
himself up tautly and said he must be going. Then he saluted gravely,
said good night in a voice that included them all, and strode away
through the darkness towards the police camp.

For a moment there was silence round the glowing embers.

"It was kind of him to say good night," said Diana, sarcastically.

"What a fine-looking man!" commented Meryl.

"He is gruffer than usual to-night. Perhaps something has happened to
upset him. I think I must be going also," and Stanley reluctantly rose
to follow his chief.

"Of course he is gruffer," said Diana. "Two tiresome women have dared
to journey to Zimbabwe to look at his ruins."

In the darkness Carew strode on to where a light shone through the
doorway of a hut, but his eyes were looking straight before him into
the night, and had the expression of one whose thoughts were very far
away. It had cost him an effort to go up there with the note, but he
had made it purposely, determined to take in hand quickly that vein of
weakness which threatened him at sight of Meryl. He would go up and
speak to her and break the spell as quickly as possible, regaining his
old fortitude. More particularly as he felt he could not now leave on
the morrow, just as Mr. Pym was arriving expecting to find him there.
Not that there appeared any reason why, just because he happened to be
a millionaire, a police officer should be expected to wait on him, but
no doubt the Administration had its own reason for showing special
attention to a very rich man, and hoped for some benefit to the
country thereby.

So he had taken the bull by the horns and strode up to the lamplit
camp, where the travellers sat over the glowing embers; and, of
course, he had heard Diana's remark, and smiled grimly to himself, in
no way displeased, for it suited him perfectly to be shunned as a
bear. And then, keeping an iron control over himself, he had addressed
Meryl, and looked straight in