palisade of heavy timbers.

"We'd better keep out o' there," said Schoverling. "Here's a good place
for the outspanning, just at the bank. Bakari, better get a thorn fence
up right away. There's no telling what's liable to happen here, and we
can command the shore at all events."

"Why can't we take a look around inside?" queried Jack, somewhat
puzzled. "There's no sign of any animals around."

"Plague," returned the explorer briefly. "First thing we do, we must go
back and get in some game. The Masai only got one impalla buck
yesterday, and we can't run short on grub."

With no disappointment the boys gazed over the blackened ruins before
them. At one time these must have formed a stronghold indeed. Signs of a
"corduroy" road for wagons led down to the water; a clear spring bubbled
out cold and refreshing from inside the compound and ran on past their
camping-place; and the sturdy palisade had resisted even the fire.
Charlie looked regretfully at the huge gate-posts, each nearly three
feet thick and planted solidly in the ground.

"Well, the sooner we do the shooting the sooner we can dig," he sighed,
and turned to the horses. The three gun-bearers had old Snider rifles
of their own, which so far had not come into use, and these they left
with the doctor and Gholab, carrying the 30-30s as had been their custom
during the march.

It was still an hour before noon, and by midday they had shot two
impalla, which with four hartebeest made up all the game they could
carry back. No signs of danger were seen on that short excursion,
although once a lion broke cover and trotted away ahead of them. The
boys could see no sign of elephant with their glasses.

"He's around," laughed Schoverling to their expressions of doubt. "An
old rogue will stay hidden away until he makes up his mind to wipe the
earth with whomever's around. When we get ready to go after him, you'll
have your hands full." Which statement later turned into a very true
prophecy.

They rode back to camp to find the zareba done, and von Hofe standing
before the charred gate-posts, hands on hips. He turned at their
laughter and smiled.

"But yes," he retorted to their jokes as they surrounded him, "I too
have the treasure-hunt fever got! Yet is there one question which
puzzles me, my friends!"

"What's that?" laughed Charlie.

"The letter said 'under the left gate post.' Now, when you face the
burned buildings here, this one is the left; but when you tu