ur heads on the matter.
The cave is _our_ only road, which means that there is _no_ road."

That evening at supper we discovered that Hans was missing; also that he
had got possession of my keys and broken into a box containing liquor,
for there it stood open in the cooking-hut with the keys in the lock.

"He has gone on the drink," I said to Ragnall, "and upon my soul I don't
wonder at it; for sixpence I would follow his example."

Then we went to bed. Next morning we breakfasted rather late, since when
one has nothing to do there is no object in getting up early. As I was
preparing to go to the cook-house to boil some eggs, to our astonishment
Hans appeared with a kettle of coffee.

"Hans," I said, "you are a thief."

"Yes, Baas," answered Hans.

"You have been at the gin box and taking that poison."

"Yes, Baas, I have been taking poison. Also I took a walk and all is
right now. The Baas must not be angry, for it is very dull doing nothing
here. Will the Baases eat porridge as well as eggs?"

As it was no use scolding him I said that we would. Moreover, there was
something about his manner which made me suspicious, for really he did
not look like a person who has just been very drunk.

After we had finished breakfast he came and squatted down before me.
Having lit his pipe he asked suddenly:

"Would the Baases like to walk through that cave to-night? If so, there
will be no trouble."

"What do you mean?" I asked, suspecting that he was still drunk.

"I mean, Baas, that the Dweller-in-the-cave is fast asleep."

"How do you know that, Hans?"

"Because I am the nurse who put him to sleep, Baas, though he kicked
and cried a great deal. He is asleep; he will wake no more. Baas, I have
killed the Father of Serpents."

"Hans," I said, "now I am sure that you are still drunk, although you do
not show it outside."

"Hans," added Ragnall, to whom I had translated as much of this as he
did not understand, "it is too early in the day to tell good stories.
How could you possibly have killed that serpent without a gun--for you
took none with you--or with it either for that matter?"

"Will the Baases come and take a walk through the cave?" asked Hans with
a snigger.

"Not till I am quite sure that you are sober," I replied; then,
remembering certain other events in this worthy's career, added; "Hans,
if you do not tell us the story at once I will beat you."

"There isn't much story, Baas," replied Hans betwee