inned, scowled and leered, with an incessant twitching at the corners
of the mouth that showed teeth still white.

"From Houten, you say? Come in. I'll get you a drink."

Gordon led the way inside, stepping among the littered furniture with
the instinct of a cat. He shouted an order, unintelligible to his
visitors, and an entire side of the hut was raised, admitting the
strong, pouring sunlight.

"What does Houten want now?" he asked, his hands writhing nervously. "I
sent him the last lot of dust with the last lot of trade. Didn't he get
it?"

"Yes, some of it," returned Barry, scrutinizing the nervous wreck
puttering about the stained table, muddling with bottle and glasses.
"That's why we're here, because he only got some of it. No, no drink,
thanks; and it won't be a bad notion if you leave it alone for a while,
until we settle our business. Why, man, you look ready to tumble into
your wooden suit right now!"

"That's all right, old chap," grinned Gordon, pouring out a strong peg
of Hollands and gulping it down like water. "I've had a shock to-day;
that's all that's wrong with me. I can talk business with you all
right."

"So we gave you a shock, hey?" chuckled Little knowingly.

"You?" An undercurrent of contempt marked Gordon's tone.

"No, you didn't shock me a bit, old fellow. Not many men can. It was
a--er--a lady." The voice broke into a grating laugh.

"Who? What? Was it Mrs.--" burst out Little incautiously.

"Mr. Little!" Gordon snarled, his teeth showing viciously, "you forget
yourself, I think. Remember you're in a gentleman's house, even though
that house is only a hut and the gentleman's infernally drunk. That part
of my business concerns neither you nor Houten."

"Sorry," Little apologized awkwardly, blushing like a girl. "I ought--"

"That's all right," broke in Barry shortly. "Mr. Gordon will understand
that. At present we can't talk much business. The atmosphere doesn't
seem right. Come, Little, we'll get back to the ship, and perhaps Gordon
will come aboard to dinner to-morrow, eh, Gordon?"

"Certainly, Captain, thanks. I'll be glad to eat at a white man's table
again," cried the trader, obviously relieved at the departure of his
guests. "What time?"

"Well, say about noon; then we can talk business for an hour. By the
way, can you direct me to the Mission?"

"Just behind the stockade, Captain. Not a hundred yards away. But you
can't see it for trees until you get there. Won't find