lioness is kind o' softer an' not so quick in the uptake. My money's
on Jane for a place. But d'you suppose this Lady Saffren
Whatshername's another one? Them Greeks ahead of us I'm sure of; all
the Greeks in Africa are huntin' for nothin' else. But what about the
dame?"

"Going to join her husband, perhaps," suggested Fred to put him off.

"There's no man o' that name in British East or Uganda. I know 'em
all--every one."

"Father--brother--uncle--nephew--oh, perhaps she's just traveling,"
said Fred.

"Just traveling my eye! Titled ladies don't come 'just traveling' in
these parts--not by a sight, they don't--not alone!"

He helped himself to more whisky, but had reached the stage where it
had no further visible effect on him.

"Anyhow," he said, wiping the neck of the jar with his hand, "if she
kids herself she'll be let go where she pleases--why, she kids herself!
It takes Pioneer Jane to trespass where writs don't run! Jane goes
where her husband don't dare follow. The officials don't say a word.
Y'see there's no jail where they could stow a white woman and observe
the decencies. So she goes over the borderline whenever she sees fit.
The king's writ runs maybe for thirty miles north o' this railway.
Once over that they can't catch you. But unless you're a black man, or
Pioneer Jane, the natives tip the gov'ment off an' gov'ment rounds you
up afore you get two-thirds the way. They'll take less than half a
chance with her ladyship or I'm a Dutchman. Why! How would it look to
have to bring her back between two native policemen? She'll not be
allowed five miles outside Nairobi township!"

He up-ended his whisky again, consumed about a pint of it, and settled
down to sleep. We took him by the legs and arms and threw him on the
upper berth to stew in the cabined heat under the roof.

"It's good Monty's not with us," said Fred. He sat down and laughed at
our surprise that he should state such heresy. "Monty mustn't break
laws, but who cares if we do?"

"Laws?" said Will disgustedly. "I don't care who makes, or breaks the
laws of this land! Let's beat it! Let's join Monty in London and make
plans for some other trip. Everybody's after this ivory. We haven't a
look-in. Even if we knew where to look for it we'd be followed. Let's
take the next train back from Nairobi, and the next boat for Europe!"

Fred rubbed his hands delightedly, and stroked his beard into the neat
point it refuses to ke