ner, with a half-comic resignation in
his eyes.

"Yes, sir," scratching the back of his neck. "I am afraid I understand.
You want me to go back to that Platter--that God-forsaken Platter, as I
may say."

"Yes," said Meredith. "That is about it. I would go myself--"

"God bless you! I know you would!" burst in Joseph. "You'd go like
winkin'. There's no one knows that better nor me, sir; and what I says
is--like master, like man. Game, sir--game it is! I'll go. I'm not the
man to turn my back on a pal--a--a partner, sir, so to speak."

"You see," said Meredith, with the deep insight into men that made
command so easy to him--"you see there is no one else. There is not
another man in Africa who could do it."

"That's true, sir."

"And I think that Mr. Oscard will be looking for you."

"And he won't need to look long, sir. But I should like to see you safe
on board the boat. Then I'm ready to go."

"Right. We can both leave by Thursday's boat, and we'll get the captain
to drop you and your men at Lopez. We can get things ready by then, I
think."

"Easy, sir."

The question thus settled, there seemed to be no necessity to prolong
the interview. But Joseph did not move. Meredith waited patiently.

"I'll go up, sir, to the Platter," said the servant at length, "and I'll
place myself under Mr. Oscard's orders; but before I go I want to
give you notice of resignation. I resigns my partnership in this 'ere
Simiacine at six months from to-day. It's a bit too hot, sir, that's the
truth. It's all very well for gentlemen like yourself and Mr. Oscard,
with fortunes and fine houses, and, as sayin' goes, a wife apiece
waiting for you at home--it's all very well for you to go about in this
blamed country, with yer life in yer hand, and not a tight grip at that.
But for a poor soldier-man like myself, what has smelt the regulation
powder all 'is life and hasn't got nothing to love and no gal waiting
for him at home--well, it isn't good enough. That's what I say, sir,
with respects."

He added the last two words by way of apology for having banged a very
solid fist on the table. Meredith smiled.

"So you've had enough of it?" he said.

"Enough ain't quite the word, sir. Why, I'm wore to a shadow with the
trouble and anxiety of getting you down here."

"Fairly substantial shadow," commented Meredith.

"May be, sir. But I've had enough of moneymakin'. It's too dear at the
price. And if you'll let an old servant speak his