as though unconsciously he were calling
back the mood which had then seized him, he began to walk more slowly.

'You see, it was the only thing to do. We'd about come to the end of our
food, and we were bound to get some by hook or by crook. If we'd shown
the white feather they would probably have set upon us without more ado.
My own people were too frightened to make a fight of it, and we should
have been wiped out like sheep. Then I had a kind of instinctive feeling
that it would be all right. I didn't feel as if my time had come.'

But, notwithstanding, for three hours his life had hung in the balance;
and Lucy understood that it was only his masterful courage which had won
the day and turned a sullen, suspicious foe into a warm ally.

He achieved the object of his expedition, discovered a new species of
antelope of which he was able to bring back to the Natural History
Museum a complete skeleton and two hides; took some geographical
observations which corrected current errors, and made a careful
examination of the country. When he had learnt all that was possible,
still on the most friendly terms with the ferocious ruler, he set out
for Mombassa. He reached it in one month more than five years after he
had left it.

The results of this journey had been small enough, but Alec looked upon
it as his apprenticeship. He had found his legs, and believed himself
fit for much greater undertakings. He had learnt how to deal with
natives, and was aware that he had a natural influence over them. He had
confidence in himself. He had surmounted the difficulties of the
climate, and felt himself more or less proof against fever and heat. He
returned to the coast stronger than he had ever been in his life, and
his enthusiasm for African travel increased tenfold. The siren had taken
hold of him, and no escape now was possible.

He spent a year in England, and then went back to Africa. He had
determined now to explore certain districts to the northeast of the
great lakes. They were in the hinterland of British East Africa, and
England had a vague claim over them; but no actual occupation had taken
place, and they formed a series of independent states under Arab emirs.
He went this time with a roving commission from the government, and
authority to make treaties with the local chieftains. Spending six years
in these districts, he made a methodical survey of the country, and was
able to prepare valuable maps. He collected an immen