that this was the supreme moment of his life; and
then corrected himself by saying that that moment would arrive when, in
the fulness of time, he would confront his brother Fellows of the
Zoological Society with the skins of a pair of unicorns, properly
prepared and set up by Ward, in confutation of the thinly veiled doubts
and scepticism with which certain of them had dared to receive a former
statement of his that unicorns actually existed, and that he had beheld
them with his own good eyes. They had not scrupled to suggest that
possibly he might have been mistaken! Donner und Blitzen! would they
still think so when they saw those skins? Ha, ha! When he, von
Schalckenberg, next made a definite statement, they would, perhaps, be
less ready to discredit it!

The next question was, would Mildmay be so very obliging as to go back
to the ship and bring her to the spot where the fallen unicorns lay?
The remainder of the party, and especially the ladies, would doubtless
like to see them, just as they were, ere the process of flaying had been
begun; moreover, they would need the assistance of the other men in
securing the skins, to say nothing of that of the lion and, possibly,
the python. As for him, von Schalckenberg, he would remain there on
guard to protect those priceless trophies from depredation and injury by
vultures or wild beasts; they should never leave his sight until they
were safely removed and stowed away. Danger? Ach! what was danger
compared with the saving of those skins in perfect condition? Besides,
he had his rifle and an abundant supply of cartridges; he was not
afraid.

"Very well," said Mildmay, "I shall go." And away he started up the
slope forthwith, leaving the professor full in the open, seated upon the
body of one of the unicorns, with his pipe in his mouth and his rifle in
his hand, glaring round him warily through his gold-framed spectacles,
keenly on the watch for any predatory creature that should dare to
dispute the right of himself and his friend to their lawful spoils.

When Mildmay reached the ship he found Sir Reginald, Lethbridge, and
Sziszkinski already astir and taking their coffee in the dining-saloon.
They greeted his appearance with a shout.

"Hillo, Mildmay," exclaimed the baronet, "where have you sprung from?
Surely you have not been out all night? And yet you look as though you
had. Any luck?"

"_Rather_," answered Mildmay, with emphasis. "Yes, thanks, George,"