unicated by a metal grill for
ventilating purposes, and a word spoken in one cabin above a whisper
could be heard in the next.

Fred was the first to realize conditions. He opened his door in his
usual abrupt way to visit Monty's cabin and almost fell over the Syrian
maid, her eye at Monty's key-hole--a little too early in the game to
pass for sound judgment, as Fred was at pains to assure her.

The alarm being given, we locked our cabin doors, repaired to the
smoking-room, and ordered drinks at a center table where no
eavesdropper could overhear.

"It's one of two things," said Monty. He had his folding board out,
and we did not doubt he would play chess from there to London. "Either
they know exactly where that ivory is, or they haven't the slightest
idea."

"My, but you're wise!" said Will.

Monty ignored him. "They suspect us of knowing. They mean to prevent
our getting any of it. If they do know, they've some reason of their
own for not getting it themselves at present. If they don't know, they
suspect we know and intend to claim what we find."

"How should they think we know?" objected Will. "The first we ever
heard of the stuff was in the lazaretto in Zanzibar."

"True. Juma told us. Juma probably told them that we told him.
Natives often put the cart before the horse without the slightest
intention of lying."

"All the same, why should they believe him?"

"Why not? Zanzibar's agog with the story--after all these years. The
ivory must have been buried more than a quarter of a century ago. Some
one's been stirring the mud. We arrive, unexpectedly from nowhere, ask
questions about the ivory, make plans for British East Africa--and
there you are! The people who were merely determined to get the stuff
jump to the false conclusion that we really know where it is.''

"Q. E. D.!" said Fred, finishing his drink.

"Not at all," said Monty. "There are two things yet to be
demonstrated. They're true, but not proven. The German government is
after the stuff. And the German government has very special reasons
for secrecy and tricks."

"We four against the German government looks like longish odds," said
I.

"Remains to be seen," said Monty. "If the German government's very
special reasons were legal or righteous they'd be announced with a
fanfare of trumpets."

"Where's all this leading us?" demanded Fred.

"To a slight change of plan," said Monty.

"Thank the lord! That means you don't