deck and discuss the future. Like me, he knew nothing of
the land he was going to, but he was insatiably curious, and he
affected me with his interest. 'This place, Blaauwildebeestefontein,'
he used to say, 'is among the Zoutpansberg mountains, and as far as I
can see, not above ninety miles from the railroad. It looks from the
map a well-watered country, and the Agent-General in London told me it
was healthy or I wouldn't have taken the job. It seems we'll be in the
heart of native reserves up there, for here's a list of chiefs--'Mpefu,
Sikitola, Majinje, Magata; and there are no white men living to the
east of us because of the fever. The name means the "spring of the
blue wildebeeste," whatever fearsome animal that may be. It sounds
like a place for adventure, Mr Crawfurd. You'll exploit the pockets of
the black men and I'll see what I can do with their minds.' There was
another steerage passenger whom I could not help observing because of
my dislike of his appearance. He, too, was a little man, by name
Henriques, and in looks the most atrocious villain I have ever clapped
eyes on. He had a face the colour of French mustard--a sort of dirty
green--and bloodshot, beady eyes with the whites all yellowed with
fever. He had waxed moustaches, and a curious, furtive way of walking
and looking about him. We of the steerage were careless in our dress,
but he was always clad in immaculate white linen, with pointed, yellow
shoes to match his complexion. He spoke to no one, but smoked long
cheroots all day in the stern of the ship, and studied a greasy
pocket-book. Once I tripped over him in the dark, and he turned on me
with a snarl and an oath. I was short enough with him in return, and
he looked as if he could knife me.

'I'll wager that fellow has been a slave-driver in his time,' I told Mr
Wardlaw, who said, 'God pity his slaves, then.'

And now I come to the incident which made the rest of the voyage pass
all too soon for me, and foreshadowed the strange events which were to
come. It was the day after we crossed the Line, and the first-class
passengers were having deck sports. A tug-of-war had been arranged
between the three classes, and a half-dozen of the heaviest fellows in
the steerage, myself included, were invited to join. It was a blazing
hot afternoon, but on the saloon deck there were awnings and a cool
wind blowing from the bows. The first-class beat the second easily,
and after a tremendous str