mon danger. Men who find pleasure in the same game
or the same pursuit are drawn together by a common taste; but in the
indulgence of it there is sure to arise, sooner or later, a spirit of
competition. Now, this spirit, which is in most human affairs, is a new
bond of union when men are fighting side by side against a common foe.

During the three days that followed Durnovo's departure from Msala, Jack
Meredith and Oscard learnt to know each other. These three days were as
severe a test as could well be found; for courage, humanity, tenderness,
loyalty, were by turns called forth by circumstance. Smallpox rages in
Africa as it rages nowhere else in these days. The natives fight it
or bow before it as before an ancient and deeply dreaded foe. It was
nothing new to them, and it would have been easy enough for Jack and
Oscard to prove to their own satisfaction that the presence of three
white men at Msala was a danger to themselves and no advantage to the
natives. It would have been very simple to abandon the river station,
leaving there such men as were stricken down to care for each other. But
such a thought never seemed to suggest itself.

The camp was moved across the river, where all who seemed strong and
healthy were placed under canvas, awaiting further developments.

The infected were carried to a special camp set apart and guarded, and
this work was executed almost entirely by the three Englishmen, aided by
a few natives who had had the disease.

For three days these men went about with their lives literally in
their hands, tending the sick, cheering the despondent, frightening
the cowards into some semblance of self-respect and dignity. And during
these three days, wherein they never took an organised meal or three
consecutive hours of rest, Joseph, Meredith, and Oscard rose together to
that height of manhood where master and servant, educated man and common
soldier, stand equal before their Maker.

Owing to the promptness with which measures had been taken for isolating
the affected, the terrible sickness did not spread. In all eleven men
were stricken, and of these ten died within three days. The eleventh
recovered, but eventually remained at Msala.

It was only on the evening of the third day that Jack and Guy found time
to talk of the future. They had never left Durnovo's house, and on this
third day they found time to dine together.

"Do you think," Oscard asked bluntly, when they were left alone to