a native," interposed
Bones hastily.

"Be quiet, Bones," commanded the girl, and Bones shrugged his shoulders
and obeyed.

"When the leopard was found," continued Hamilton, "he was certainly
beyond human aid, and though no bullet mark was discovered, Bones
conclusively proved----"

"One moment, dear old officer," interrupted Bones. He had seen out of
the tail of his eye a majestic figure crossing the square.

"Will you allow me to produce scientific an' expert evidence?"

Hamilton assented gravely, and Bones went to the door of the orderly
room and roared a name.

"I shall produce," he said quietly, but firmly, "the evidence of one
who enjoyed the confidence of dear old Professor What's-his-name, the
eminent thigumy-ologist. Oh, Ali!"

Ali Abid, a solemn figure, salaamed in the doorway.

Not for nothing had he been factotum to a great bacteriologist before
the demise of his master had driven him to service with a lieutenant of
Houssas. His vocabulary smelt of the laboratory, his English was pure,
undefiled, and unusual.

"Ali, you remember my leopard?"

"Sir," said Ali, shaking his head, "who can forget?"

"Did I kill him, Ali?" asked Bones. "Tell the lady everything."

Ali bowed to the girl.

"Miss or madame," he said, "the leopard (_Felis pardus_), a wild beast
of the Felidae family, is indigenous to forest territory. The subject in
question--to wit, the skin thereof exhibited by Sir Bones--was
particularly ferocious, and departed this life as a result of hunting
conducted by aforesaid. Examination of subject after demise under most
scientific scrutiny revealed that said leopard (_Felis pardus_) suffered
from weak heart, and primary cause of death was diagnosed as shock
occasioned by large 'bang' from Sir Bones's rifle."

"What did I say?" asked Bones complacently.

"Do you mean to tell me," gasped the girl, "that you _frightened_ the
leopard to death?"

Bones spread out his hands disparagingly.

"You have heard the evidence, dear old sister," he said; "there is
nothing to add."

She threw back her head and laughed until her grey eyes were swimming in
tears.

"Oh, Bones, you humbug!" she laughed.

Bones drew himself up more stiffly than ever, stuck his monocle in his
eye, and turned to his chief.

"Do I understand, sir," he said, "that my leave is granted?"

"Seven days," said Hamilton, and Bones swung round on his heel, knocked
over Hamilton's stationery rack, stumbled over a chair, and