t that what concerned him so intensely might be of no moment to
her, he began forthwith upon the subject which was ever at his heart.
But he spoke as his interest prompted, of each topic as it most absorbed
him, starting with what he was now about and going back to what had
first attracted his attention to that business; then telling his plans
for the future, and to make them clear, finishing with the events that
had led up to his determination. Lucy listened attentively, now and then
asking a question; and presently the whole matter sorted itself in her
mind, so that she was able to make a connected narrative of his life
since the details of it had escaped from Dick's personal observation.

* * *

For some years Alec MacKenzie had travelled in Africa with no object
beyond a great curiosity, and no ambition but that of the unknown. His
first important expedition had been, indeed, occasioned by the failure
of a fellow-explorer. He had undergone the common vicissitudes of
African travel, illness and hunger, incredible difficulties of transit
through swamps that seemed never ending, and tropical forest through
which it was impossible to advance at the rate of more than one mile a
day; he had suffered from the desertion of his bearers and the perfidy
of native tribes. But at last he reached the country which had been the
aim of his journey. He had to encounter then a savage king's determined
hostility to the white man, and he had to keep a sharp eye on his
followers who, in abject terror of the tribe he meant to visit, took
every opportunity to escape into the bush. The barbarian chief sent him
a warning that he would have him killed if he attempted to enter his
capital. The rest of the story Alec told with an apologetic air, as if
he were ashamed of himself, and he treated it with a deprecating humour
that sought to minimise both the danger he had run and the courage he
had displayed. On receiving the king's message, Alec MacKenzie took up a
high tone, and returned the answer that he would come to the royal kraal
before midday. He wanted to give the king no time to recover from his
astonishment, and the messengers had scarcely delivered the reply before
he presented himself, unarmed and unattended.

'What did you say to him?' asked Lucy.

'I asked him what the devil he meant by sending me such an impudent
message,' smiled Alec.

'Weren't you frightened?' said Lucy.

'Yes,' he answered.

He paused for a moment, and,