ht down to
the coast without incurring a prohibitive expense?"

"Yes," said Singleton. "But you must understand me. The methods
generally adopted in such cases would be bound to fail. You would
require an overseer with rather exceptional technical knowledge, who
must, besides this, be quite free from the usual prejudices on the
native question. They would, no doubt, be a little difficult to avoid,
since at first he would have to put up with a few attempts upon his
life; but, if he could combine resolution and strict justice with a
conciliatory attitude, the attempt would cease, and I think he could
earn you a fair return on a moderate outlay."

Jackson laughed.

"So far as my experience goes, such men are scarce. But I'd better say
that we had you in mind when we made this visit. Do you think you
could do anything, if we sent you out?"

"Yes," said Singleton quietly; "I believe I could make the venture pay.
Whether I'd think it worth while is another matter."

"Then," Nevis interposed, "it's simply a question of terms?"

"Oh, no. You may be surprised to hear that payment is not the first
consideration; though it's true. I'm interested in certain
investigations which can be carried out only in the tropics. However,
you'd better make your offer."

Nevis did so, and Singleton pondered for a few moments.

"The remuneration might suffice, provided that I was given a percentage
on the product and one or two special allowances; but before going any
farther I must understand your intentions. I'm a botanist, and have no
wish to be made use of merely for the purpose of furthering some
stock-jobbing scheme. Do you really want this venture put upon a
satisfactory working footing?"

"I'll explain," said Nevis. "The fact is, Lansing let us in rather
badly. We spent a good deal of money over this concession, and we're
anxious to get it back. Since we can't float the thing on the market
at present, we have formed a small private syndicate to develop the
property, though we may sell out in a year or two if you can make the
undertaking commercially successful. I think you could count on the
purchasers' continuing operations."

"Have you considered what Lansing's attitude may be?"

"It won't matter. He has gone out of the business, convinced that the
thing's no good; he cleared off most of his rubber shares, for a
similar reason. This raises another point--the original company's
possessions lie in the same r