t came back
so vividly as to render me more merciless still towards others in the
same plight. But you two I spared."

"Then it was you I challenged that morning in the dark?"

"Even your vigilance was as nothing against me, John Ames, for did I not
step right over you while you slept?"

The other whistled. There could be no doubt about that.

"Then you will take these two packets. The one marked on the outside
`A' you will open at once, and with every precaution will forward the
enclosure it contains to the address that enclosure bears."

This John Ames promised to do. He would register it if the post lines
were still open. If not, he would take every precaution for its safety
until they were.

"But they will be still open," was the decided reply. "As for the next
packet, marked `B,' you will not open it--not yet. Keep it with you.
The time may come when you will see everything dark around you, and
there is no outlook, and life hardly worth prolonging. Then, and then
only, open it. Do you promise to observe my instructions implicitly?"

"I pledge you my word of honour to do so," replied John Ames, gravely.

"Then our time for parting is very near. Remember that you owe your
life--both your lives--to me. Don't interrupt. It is not unnecessary
to remind you again of this, for you will meet with every temptation to
reveal that which I charge you to keep to yourself--viz. all relating to
my personality and what you have seen and heard."

"One moment. Pardon my asking," said John Ames, tentatively. "But have
you ever told anybody else what you have told me?"

"Not one living soul. Why have I told you? Perhaps I had my reasons:
perhaps the sight of you two wandering as I have wandered. It is
immaterial. My work here is nearly done. This rising which has been so
disastrous to your countrymen and mine--how disastrous you have yet to
learn--my hand has fostered and fed. I have foreseen the opportunity.
I waited for it patiently, and when it came I seized it. But there will
be more work in other parts, and, mark me, John Ames, my unseen hand
will again be there to strike."

"Tell me one thing more. If it was through your influence the people
spared us, how is it they tried to kill me that time I was leaving
Madula, when they drove me over the _dwala_, and I woke up to find
myself here? That was a narrow squeak, I can tell you."

"It was indeed, John Ames. But that was accidental, and was cont