weather; in short, there is nothing to prevent
our starting to-morrow morning."

"So soon, father?" said Mark.

"So soon, sir! Yes. Haven't we been busy here for a fortnight, making
our preparations? And a very busy time it has been. I consider that we
have finished our stay here with bidding good-bye to the officers and
thanking them. You saw how I stopped back at the barracks this evening.
Do you know what it was for, doctor?"

"No, sir."

"To tell Captain Lawton that I would rather not have any nonsense and
procession or firing of farewell salute, and that I had made up my mind
that we would start early to-morrow morning."

"Then we really are to go to-morrow, father?"

"Of course."

"But, uncle," protested Dean, "there are several more things that might
be useful and that I should like to get."

"Of course there are, sir," said his uncle shortly, "and so there would
be if we stopped about here for another month. Now, no more words. You
have got your marching orders, captain--I mean, doctor; and you will go
round with your officers and see the blacks, the two drivers, and our
own three men, so that there may be no excuse for their not being
ready."

"Exactly so, Sir James. I am very glad that we have come to this
climax."

"So am I," said Sir James. "Eh? What's that, Mark?" for the boy was
whispering to his cousin. "What's that you are saying?"

"Oh, I was only talking to Dean, father," said the boy, rather
confusedly, and his face turned scarlet, lit up as it was by the
swinging lantern beneath which he was seated.

"Yes, sir; I saw you were; and you were protesting against my orders for
what I presume you call this hurried start."

"That I am sure I was not, father. I was only joking to Dean."

"And what was the joke, sir? You, Dean, what did he say?"

"I don't like to tell you, uncle."

"I insist that you tell me at once, sir," said Sir James angrily.

The boy gave a deprecating look at his cousin, and then went on
hesitatingly, "Mark said that it was comic--"

"Well, sir? Go on."

Dean coughed to clear his voice.

"He said it was comic that you had just made us all officers and then
ended by taking it all out of the doctor's hands and playing captain
yourself."

"Humph! Well," grunted Sir James, "it does sound a little odd. But
this was the final instructions as I was making resignation. But stop a
minute. I had just made the reservation that I should interfere if I