the middle of a fine lilting song, to a somewhat
thunderous accompaniment, in the other room.

"My dear Hyland," he began:

"Don't you feel like a change of air and scene after your ten months of
labour in the City of Gold--dust; and that dust all and entirely in the
air, save when it's in the larynxes and lungs of its eighty odd thousand
inhabitants--mostly Hebrews? If so, I should think you could get your
brother--shark--to take on your share and his own too, of the process of
fleecing the child-like and unwary investor--even as you did--between
you--of late, in the matter of a certain ancient relative of one of the
firm--who shall be nameless--and that on the ground that there were not
sufficient Heathen Chinee-s on the mines. Well then, do so, and load up
on board the train as soon as you like after receipt of this, and _trek_
down here for as long as you like. Edala is getting a bit hipped. I'm
not sure the same doesn't hold good a little of her--and your--
unrespected parent.

"Things here are much the same, except that we've got a new man at
Kwabulazi in the room of old Carston transferred, as the official
letters say--a chap named Elvesdon, an exceedingly wide awake, smart
chap, and devilish good company. You're sure to like him. Old Tongwana
often asks after you. We've also got a new man here--black--named
Mana--"

Thornhill stopped, then carefully erased the last phrase--he did not
know why, perhaps it was due to what Edala had called `instinct.' Then
he went on--

"There are rows and rumours of rows about possible bother among the
people here, mainly over the new poll-tax, as, by the way, you will of
course have heard--since all the doings of the known world are known at
that hub of the Universe, Johannesburg, about forty-eight hours sooner
than they are known--say in London. But it will probably end in smoke.
If it doesn't, such a fire eater as yourself will be more in your
element here than there, I should think, after your experiences in
Matabeleland, and of the pom-poms of Brother Boer.

"Well, load yourself up on the first train you can capture, old chap,
and hasten to smoke the pipe of peace under the welcoming roof of--

"Your old Governor."

This characteristic letter Thornhill read over, with a chuckle or two,
stuck down the envelope and directed it.

_Hyland Thornhill, Esq_.
_P.O. Box Something or other_,
_Johannesburg_.

Just then Edala came in.

"Hullo. What's that