siness of
the utmost importance detains me in England. I am, however, sending
Mr. Baxter with him, with powerful credentials, and if it should be
in your power to do anything to assist them you will be adding
materially to the debt of gratitude I already owe you.

"Believe me, my dear Mr. Hatteras, to be,

"Very truly yours,
"GLENBARTH."

My breakfast finished, I answered both these letters, informed my
friends of my contemplated departure by the same steamer, and promised
that I would do all that lay in my power to ensure both the young
traveller's pleasure and his safety. For the rest of the morning I was
occupied inditing a letter to my sweetheart, informing her of my return
to the Colonies, and telling her all my adventures since her departure.

The afternoon was spent in saying good-bye to the few business friends I
had made in London, and in the evening I went for the last time to a
theatre.

Five minutes to eleven o'clock next morning found me at Waterloo sitting
in a first-class compartment of the West of England express, bound for
Plymouth and Australia. Though the platform was crowded to excess I had
the carriage so far to myself, and was about to congratulate myself on
my good fortune, when a porter appeared on the scene, and deposited a
bag in the opposite corner. A moment later, and just as the train was in
motion, a man jumped in the carriage, tipped the servant, and then
placed a basket upon the rack. The train was half-way out of the station
before he turned round, and my suspicions were confirmed. _It was Dr.
Nikola!_

Though he must have known who his companion was, he affected great
surprise. "Mr. Hatteras," he cried, "I think this is the most
extraordinary coincidence I have ever experienced in my life."

"Why so?" I asked. "You knew I was going to Plymouth to-day, and one
moment's reflection must have told you, that as my boat sails at eight,
I would be certain to take the morning express, which lands me there at
five. Should I be indiscreet if I asked where you may be going?"

"Like yourself, I am also visiting Plymouth," he answered, taking the
basket, before mentioned, down from the rack, and drawing a French novel
from his coat pocket. "I expect an old Indian friend home by the mail
boat that arrives to-night. I am going down to meet him."

I felt relieved to hear that he was not thinking of sailing in the
_Saratoga_, and after a few polite commonpla