aw the two men racing in pursuit, and fired twice. One man fell, the
other swerved and was lost in the shadows.

An answering shot came from the Houssa sentry at the far end of the
square. Sanders saw a man running, and fired again, and again missed.

Then out of the darkness blundered Ali Abid, his face grey with fear.

"Sir," he gasped, "wild animal (_Felis pardus_) has divested muzzlement
and proper restraint, and is chasing various subjects outrageously."

Even as he spoke a fourth figure sped across the ground before the
Residency, so close that they could see the bundle he carried under his
arm.

"My jacket!" roared Bones. "Hi, stop him! Good Lord!"

Swift on the heels of the flying man came a streak of yellow fur....

Whether O'ka of the Jumburu outpaced the leopard, or the leopard
overtook O'ka, is not known, but until the rains came and washed away
the scent of crude aniseed, Bones dared not leave his hut by night for
fear of the strange beasts that came snuffling at his hut, or sat in
expectant and watchful circles about his dwelling, howling dismally.

CHAPTER IX

THE MERCENARIES

There was a large brown desk in Sanders's study, a desk the edges of
which had been worn yellow with constant rubbing. It was a very tidy
desk, with two rows of books neatly grouped on the left and on the
right, and held in place by brass rails. There were three tiers of wire
baskets, a great white blotting-pad, a silver inkstand and four
clean-looking pens.

Lately, there had appeared a glass vase filled with flowers which were
daily renewed. Except on certain solemn occasions, none intruded into
this holy of holies. It is true that a change had been brought about by
the arrival of Patricia Hamilton, for she had been accorded permission
to use the study as she wished, and she it was who had introduced the
floral decorations.

Yet, such was the tradition of sanctuary which enveloped the study, that
neither Captain Hamilton, her brother, nor Bones, her slave, had ever
ventured to intrude thither in search of her, and if by chance they came
to the door to speak to her, they unaccountably lowered their voices.

On a certain summer morning, Hamilton sat at the desk, a stern and sober
figure, and Bones, perspiring and rattled, sat on the edge of a chair
facing him.

The occasion was a solemn one, for Bones was undergoing his examination
in subjects "X" and "Y" for promotion to the rank of Captain. The
particular