he Germans are so set on finding Tippoo
Tib's hoard of ivory? Do you begin to understand why they are
determined, not only to prevent your finding it, but to learn your
secret? If rumor is one-half true, the Arab buried somewhere enough
ivory to finance this plan of theirs! They have been going about the
search systematically, and sooner or later they feel they must stumble
on it. They will not let you forestall them!"

She paused again. Her very earnestness exhausted her more than the
walk through the dark in danger had done.

"Take your time," Fred advised her. "We're all listening!"

"When I told you in Nairobi that Lord Montdidier had been murdered, I
believed I was so near the truth that you would never know the
difference. I knew the order had been given to have him killed on
board ship--given by men who are accustomed to be obeyed--who do not
excuse failure on any ground. They feared he might be going to divulge
the secret of the ivory to his government in London. Oh, I tell you
they stop at nothing! To-day London is the ivory market of the world,
but they have their arrangements made for transferring that center of
trade to Hamburg! They mean first to crush competitors, and then
monopolize! They hope the ivory is in this country. In that case
their task will be easy. But if it should be found in British East,
they are all ready with the necessary men of influence to apply for a
mining or agricultural concession, and they will fence that place off
so thoroughly that no one will ever be the wiser until they have
carried the ivory out of the country!"

"They could never get it out of British East without the government
knowing," objected Fred; but she laughed at him.

"If worse came to the worst, they are ready with an offer to exchange
ten times the territory elsewhere for just that small section of the
country. They would give up German New Guinea, or Southwest
Africa--anything! They have fooled the French and Russian governments
until they are ready to bring pressure to bear on England
diplomatically to induce her to make almost any bargain of that kind
that the Germans want. They are even willing to concede to England the
whole of Abyssinia, which nobody owns yet, and to back her up against
the claims of France and Italy! Why should they not be willing to make
temporary concessions, when all Africa is to be theirs in ten years'
time! They will give to-day, and with the help of the money