aptain. Thought the police might change their minds and
come back. Any orders, Captain?"

"Yes. I am going to North Central Africa. When can you be ready to
start?"

"The Brindisi mail leaves to-morrow night, Captain, if you travel by
Egypt, but if you go by Tunis, 7.15 a.m. Saturday is the time from
Charing Cross. Only, as I understand that high explosives and arms have
to be provided, these might take awhile to lay in and pack so as to
deceive customs."

"You understand!" said Orme. "Pray, how do you understand?"

"Doors in these old houses are apt to get away from their frames,
Captain, and the gentleman there"--and he pointed to the Professor--"has
a voice that carries like a dog-whistle. Oh, no offence, sir. A clear
voice is an excellent thing--that is, if the doors fit"--and although
Sergeant Quick's wooden face did not move, I saw his humorous grey eyes
twinkle beneath the bushy eyebrows.

We burst out laughing, including Higgs.

"So you are willing to go?" said Orme. "But I hope you clearly
understand that this is a risky business, and that you may not come
back?"

"Spion Kop was a bit risky, Captain, and so was that business in the
donga, where every one was hit except you and me and the sailor man, but
we came back, for all that. Begging your pardon, Captain, there ain't no
such thing as risk. Man comes here when he must, and dies when he must,
and what he does between don't make a ha'porth of difference."

"Hear, hear," I said; "we are much of the same way of thinking."

"There have been several who held those views, sir, since old Solomon
gave the lady that"--and he pointed to Sheba's ring, which was lying
on the table. "But excuse me, Captain; how about local allowances? Not
having been a marrying man myself, I've none dependent upon me, but, as
you know, I've sisters that have, and a soldier's pension goes with
him. Don't think me greedy, Captain," he added hastily, "but, as you
gentlemen understand, black and white at the beginning saves bother at
the end"--and he pointed to the agreement.

"Quite right. What do you want, Sergeant?" asked Orme.

"Nothing beyond my pay, if we get nothing, Captain, but if we get
something, would five per cent. be too much?"

"It might be ten," I suggested. "Sergeant Quick has a life to lose like
the rest of us."

"Thank you kindly, sir," he answered; "but that, in my opinion, would be
too much. Five per cent. was what I suggested."

So it was written down