asts was killed."

"Well, thanks to you both, my lads, we did well. Yes, Peter; what is
it?"

"I only wanted to say, Sir James," said the keeper, "that--that is, Sir
James--here, go on, Bob; you know what we want to say."

"Yes, mate, but now it's come to the point I don't like to say it."

"My good men," said Sir James, "I am too old and tired for all this
shilly-shallying. So now then, Robert, tell me what it is you both want
to say."

"Yes, Sir James. I will try, Sir James. But you see you have been a
good master to us, and now it comes to the point, though we settled it
all right together, it don't seem quite fair just now for us to give you
warning."

"No," said Sir James, "it does not. But if I take your warning, as you
call it, how are you going to get back?"

"Well, sir, Peter thought that we might go back with the soldiers."

"I don't think it would be possible," said the doctor, interposing, "and
you must not forsake us now."

"Oh, no, sir; not forsake you, sir. We want to give a month's notice to
leave; and we thought that would be quite right. You see, sir, as I
said to Peter here, black game don't seem in our way--didn't I, Peter?"

"That's a true word, Bob," said the elder keeper; "and you said, lad, it
was all right with pheasants and partridges and a hare now and then--"

"Yes, Sir James and Dr Robertson, and I says to my mate, if I had
'listed, I says, and it was my duty to, I'd pot the niggers as free as
anyone, but being only a gamekeeper it don't seem quite the thing."

"Well, doctor," said Sir James, "you hear what these men say. Now I
should like to hear your opinion."

"Well, Sir James, I will give it you plainly. As a man with a great
love for research I should go away from this ancient place with a
feeling of extreme regret--but I must own that we are buying our curios
at too dear a rate."

"Thank you, doctor," said Sir James. "Now, boys, what have you to say.
Don't both speak at once."

"No, father," said Mark, "I am too ill and weak to do the talking. Dean
will say all I want."

"Well, Dean, boy," said Sir James; "speak out frankly. Do you think we
ought to stay here, as perhaps we safely might after the lessons the
natives have had?"

"No, uncle, I don't; and if the place were a hundred times as tempting
as it is I would give up all the curios and the gold sooner than you
should run such a risk again."

"Hear, hear, hear!" cried Mark. "But don't think me a