irst. The other had already done his speaking in the
note.

"This is very sudden. I hoped you would have accompanied us to Susi."
He looked up hard into the soldier's bronzed face, though without
seeming to do so. To any other man the steadiness of Carew's eyes
might have been disconcerting.

"I hardly expected to be able to. Mr. Jardine was almost certain to be
at Segundi one day this week, and I knew I should have to meet him."

"How long will you be away?"

"Possibly a week."

Henry Pym was a little taken aback, but he did not show it. The cool
brain that had manufactured the income of a millionaire was fully
alert now, not so much because he did not wish to be taken unawares,
but because Carew interested him beyond most men, and he wanted to try
and grasp the working of his mind.

"Then we may not see you again before we start for Salisbury?"

"Possibly not. Will you kindly say good-bye to the ladies for me,
should I be prevented doing so in person?"

"They will be disappointed not to see you."

"I am sorry also." A little smile of grim humour played suddenly about
his lips. "You must tell your niece The Bear sent her a farewell
growl, and he hopes she will find more amiable Rhodesians at her
future camping-places."

"I think she is not one to care much about the average type of amiable
cavalier. She will miss The Bear's growl a good deal. But we shall see
you again shortly, I hope," he hastened to add. "Any time if you care
to come to Johannesburg we shall be delighted if you will visit us at
Hill Court."

"Thank you. If I come that way, I shall remember."

Then he held out his hand. Mr. Pym grasped it with unwonted warmth.

"Good-bye, sir," said the soldier simply.

"Good-bye, Carew; I have been glad to meet you," answered the
millionaire. And then as the horseman rode away without one backward
look, he walked slowly along the little path to the tents.

At breakfast he broke the news quite simply, but once more he did not
look at Meryl. He told them Major Carew had been called away to
Segundi, and would not return before they had departed north.

"Gone?..." echoed Diana blankly. "Do you mean he has gone already and
without saying good-bye?"

He felt Meryl's eyes upon him with a strained expression, and he
turned lightly to Diana to give her time to grasp the news.

"Yes; but he left you a message. He passed before you were up, and I
went out to speak to him. He asked me to make his farewells