, middle-aged,
brown-bearded, grey-eyed, appeared in the sun blaze outside, and entered
the cool shade of the canteen. Tom Lane, the third and most important
member of the expedition, was a well-known character in the far
interior. Hunter, trader, cattle-dealer, border-fighter, Tom's
experience of the country was unique. Tough as steel, a wonderful
veldt-man, none knew the dim and untravelled recesses of the Kalahari as
did he. He had penetrated twice before to the kraal of Tapinyani, the
Bakalahari chief whose concession they were now hoping to obtain, and
the prime weight and direction of the trek thus fell naturally upon his
broad and reliable shoulders.

"Well, Tom!" exclaimed Hume Wheler, waking a little from his languor,
"here you are at last. Have you fixed up the drivers and men? What'll
you drink--whisky and soda, or beer?"

"Thanks! I'll have a bottle of beer," responded Lane cheerfully.
"Well, I've had a lot of trouble, but I've got all the `boys' in, and
we'll start to-night about twelve, as soon as the moon's up. I see
you've got all your kits on the wagon, and the stores in. The last of
the mealies for the nags came down just as I left Klaas will see them
stowed. The tent I've fastened on to the buck-rail. By the bye,
Manning wants us all to sup at his house this evening before saying
good-bye. He's got the concession papers fixed up by the lawyers for
Tapinyani to sign, if the old buster _will_ sign; and Miss Manning
particularly hopes you'll both come."

"That's all right, Tom," rejoined Joe Granton. "We'll turn up at seven
o'clock. Miss Manning said something about it yesterday when I met her.
I've got to write some letters after lunch; but you fellows will find
me, if you want me, in my bedroom all the afternoon. Well, here's
success to the Tapinyani concession! Santeit! and another thousand a
year to us all!"

The three men smiled mutually, clinked their glasses, and drank deep
draughts to their undertaking.

That evening the three were gathered at the house of Mr Manning,
another member of the concession syndicate, who lived at the top of the
town. It was nearly ten o'clock, the last of the business had been
discussed, the concession documents handed over, and Kate Manning, the
only daughter of the house, was singing some English songs. Now Kate
was a very charming, dark-haired, dark-eyed girl, who, although she
lived with her father in this remote frontier town, had been educ