es have been with us many years. They don't care to go
home--for reasons good, no doubt, but it's not our business. Well, two of
these fellows have married--one, a Potato, has married the Stomach of a
pig----'

'Eh?' Forstermann could not contain himself.

'Those are their families, you know.' The manager, quite grave hitherto,
laughed out suddenly. 'Of course, it seems mighty droll to you, but we're
accustomed to it. Each clan claims to be descended from the thing after
which it is named. You mustn't ask me how the Stomach of a pig can have
children. That's beyond our understanding. The point is that certain of
these stocks may not intermarry under pain of death--that's their law. So
you may fancy the rumpus when strange Potatoes arriving here find one of
their breed----' he laughed again. 'It does sound funny, when you think of
it! Last night, however, when the usual disturbance broke out--a new gang
arrived yesterday, you know--Minjar, the Eel, who is the other fellow that
has married some girl he ought not to, declared he had made
blood-brotherhood with the chief of the Bhutias across the river, who
would come to avenge him if he were hurt. And I fancy that's not quite
such nonsense as you would think. I saw Minjar there that time I got the
orchid----'

Forstermann heard no more of the tale. The orchid! They reached the pool,
and he shot ducks conscientiously, but his thoughts were busy in devising
means to lead the conversation back to that point.

There was no need of finesse, however. At a word the manager told
everything. He it was who found the Cypripedium which had caused such a
fuss, when shooting on the other side of the river--that is, beyond
British territory. Struck with its beauty, he gathered a plant or two and
gave them to Mr. Spicer. It took him several days' journey to reach the
spot, but he was shooting by the way. Tigers abounded there--so did fever.
The mountaineers were as unfriendly as they dared to be. For these reasons
Mr. Spicer begged him not to return. The same motive, doubtless, caused
the planter to be reticent towards others.

With a clear conscience and heartiest thanks Forstermann bade his host
farewell next day. He had a long and painful search before him still, for
his informant could give no more than general directions. The plant grew
upon rocks along the bed of a stream to the north-west of Mr. Spicer's
plantation, not less than two days' journey from the river--that was about