cores of
things that might have happened in a little expedition like this. First
of all, they may have stopped to watch the fire-flies."

"Oh yes, but not so late."

"Well, no; but they may have gone much farther than they intended. It
is very tempting on a night like this."

"But I begged Archie Maine to be back in good time."

"Archie Maine is only a boy, and thoughtless; and I dare say Miss Heath
would be delighted with the trip; and then there would be night-blooming
flowers to look at, the noises of the jungle to listen to, and the
splashing of the croc--"

"Oh, for pity's sake, don't, Captain Down!"

"Oh, well, I won't. Now then, my dear lady, let's get back to the
bungalow, and you give me one of Morley's best cigars--not those out of
the old cedar box, please; one of those will do very well for Archie
Maine when he comes--and I will sit down in the veranda and chat with
you till the truants return; and then you can scold your niece, after
giving Archie the bad cigar. That will be punishment enough for him,
for he will be vain enough to try to smoke it, though a thin cigarette
makes him poorly, poor fellow! Now then, how do you feel now?"

"Oh, better," said Mrs Morley. "And you don't think anything could
have happened, Captain Down?"

"Nothing worse than that they have gone too far and are keeping you up."

"But you don't think that the boat has been upset?"

"Certainly not. Why should I?"

"Boats are such dangerous things."

"Yes," said the Captain quietly--"in the hands of those who don't know
how to use them. But Maine and your niece are not punting, and they
have two of Dallas's best men."

"Yes," said Mrs Morley, with a sigh of relief, as they reached the gate
and made their way into the veranda.

"Thank you," said the Captain, as Mrs Morley took a cigar-box from a
shelf and then lit a cedar-wood match at the table lamp. "I wonder how
the Doctor's going on," he continued, as he lit his cigar.

"Ah, I wonder too," said Mrs Morley.

"Hope the poor beggar isn't much hurt. But Mr Stripes' claws are
rather ugly things. Ah, well, lucky for him that he's got a Doctor
Morley to call into the wilderness. Hullo! Footsteps! What did I tell
you? Here they come! In a hurry, too."

But the distant sound of steps was not duplicated. They were those of
one only, coming at a rapid rate; and directly after the Resident dashed
open the garden gate.

"What's this I hear?" he cried excite