much
longer?

"I told you you weren't in the least cut out for life in this country,
Ancram," he said at last, striving to speak evenly. "For instance,
according to its customs even the blasphemy of Peters daring to call you
by your name doesn't justify you in abusing a man who has saved your
life; for if it hadn't been for him you'd be a well-gnawed skeleton in
the mopani belt down the Pagadi road this very moment. Wait a bit,"--as
the other was about to interrupt. "It may surprise you to hear it--they
call this a land of surprises--but there's no man alive for whom I have
a greater regard than I have for Peters. He's my friend--my _friend_,
you understand--and if you're so tired of him I can only think of one
remedy. I can lend you a horse and a boy to show you the way. There's
a hotel at Gandela. The accommodation there is indifferent, but at any
rate you won't be tired by Peters."

It was out at last. Ancram had gone too far. Would he take him at his
word? thought Lamont, hoping in the affirmative. But before the other
could reply one way or the other there was a trampling of hoofs, and a
man on horseback came round the corner of the house.

"Hallo, Driffield! Where have you dropped from?" cried Lamont, greeting
the new-comer cordially.

"Home. I'm off on a small patrol. Thought, as it was near dinner-time,
I'd sponge on you, Lamont. Where's Peters?"

"Up at his camp. He never comes down till evening. Er--Ancram. This
is Driffield, our Native Commissioner. What he don't know about the
guileless savage isn't worth knowing."

"Glad to meet you," said that official as they shook hands. "You
needn't take in everything Lamont says, all the same," he laughed. "I
say, Lamont, it's a pity Peters isn't here. I'm always missing the old
chap."

"I'll send up for him, and he'll be here in half an hour or so. I'll
see to your horse and start Zingela off at once. But--first of all have
a drink. We won't get dinner for half an hour yet."

"Thanks, I will," laughed the new arrival. "Thirsty country this, eh,
Mr --?"

"Ancram," supplied that worthy. "Thirsty? I believe you. We were
talking of that very thing just before you came."

Two things had struck Ancram--the frank cordiality that seemed to be the
predominant note among these dwellers in the wilderness, and that his
own opinion of Peters was by no means shared by others. There he had
made a _faux pas_. But he did not intend to take La