e knowledge of drugs, and especially of
poisons, than we civilised folk are aware of, or are inclined to credit
them with; and if poison is really being employed, it will almost
certainly be something of which I have no knowledge. Still, we shall
see. And you may be sure that I shall use my very best efforts to
succeed, and also to discover the details of the conspiracy which
Lobelalatutu suspects; for, should it succeed, we shall find ourselves
in an exceedingly awkward predicament."

"Why--how do you mean?" demanded Grosvenor.

"How do I mean?" repeated Dick. "Why, in a few words, I mean this, that
so long as Lobelalatutu lives and continues to govern this people we are
reasonably safe. But if he should happen to be deposed, and murdered,
the new king will most probably sacrifice us both to his fetish as a
sort of thank-offering for his success. Twig?"

"Of course I do," answered Grosvenor. "I had never thought of that; but
it seems likely enough, now that you come to mention it. It appears to
me that our first business must be to straighten out matters, for our
own sakes as well as for that of Lobelalatutu. Poor chap! Here is he,
a despot, with absolute power over the life of every one of his
subjects; you would naturally suppose that such a man would have nothing
to fear, wouldn't you? Yet, like other monarchs, he seems liable at any
moment to become the victim of secret intrigue, and lose his crown and
his life together. I thought the poor chap looked worried when we
called upon him to-day. The Bard was right--`Uneasy lies the head that
wears a crown', be the head that of a civilised monarch or a savage."

"True for you, my boy," answered Dick. "But are you not beginning to
feel tired? Because, if you are, pray don't stand on ceremony, but turn
in as soon as you like. As for me, I think I will sit up a bit longer
and see if I cannot think this matter out and find a streak of daylight
somewhere."

"Which, I suppose, is a hint that you don't need my company any longer,"
retorted Grosvenor. "All right, old chap, pray don't apologise. I know
I'm a bit of a duffer in such matters as this, so I'll leave you to
thresh it out alone, and turn in for a good night's sleep--eh, what?"

Left to himself, Dick Maitland sat far into the night, considering the
situation unfolded to him by the king; and at length an inspiration came
to him, by following which he thought it possible that he might be able
to cle