t or poisoned
'em."

"So we're rich," smiled Yerkes.

"Of course we are! Consider this, America, and tell me if Standard Oil
can beat it! One million tusks! I'm told--"

"By whom?"

"One-eye says--"

"You'll say 'Oh!' at me to a different tune, before I've done! One-eye
says it never paid to carry a tusk weighing less than sixty pounds.
Some tusks weigh two hundred--some even more--took four men to carry
some of 'em! Call it an average weight of one hundred pounds and be on
the safe side."

"Yes, let's play safe," agreed Monty seriously.

"One hundred million pounds of ivory!" said Fred, with a smack of his
lips and the air of a man who could see the whole of it. "The present
market price of new ivory is over ten shillings a pound on the spot.
That'll all be very old stuff, worth at least double. But let's say
ten shillings a pound and be on the safe side."

"Yes, let's!" laughed Yerkes.

"One thousand million--a billion shillings!" Fred announced. "Fifty
million pounds!"

"Two hundred and fifty million dollars!" Yerkes calculated, beginning
to take serious notice.

"But how are we to find it?" I objected.

"That's the point. Government 'ud hog the lot, but has hunted high and
low and can't find it. So the offer stands ten per cent. to any one
who does--ten per cent. of fifty million--lowest reckoning, mind
you!--five million pounds! Half for Monty--two and a half million. A
million for Yerkes, a million for me, and a half a million for you all
according to contract! How d'you like it?"

"Well enough," I answered. "If its only the hundredth part true, I'm
enthusiastic!"

"So now suit yourselves!" said Fred, collapsing with a sweep of his
skirts into the nearest chair. "I've told you what One-eye says.
These dusky gents sometimes exaggerate of course--"

"Now and then," admitted Monty.

"But where there's smoke you mean there's prob'ly some one smoking
hams?" suggested Yerkes.

"I mean, let's find that ivory!" said Fred.

"We might do worse than make an inquiry or two," Monty assented
cautiously.

"Didums, you damned fool, you're growing old! You're wasting time!
You're trying to damp enthusiasm! You're--you're--"

"Interested, Fred. I'm interested. Let's--"

"Let's find that ivory and to hell with caution! Why, man alive, it's
the chance of a million lifetimes!"

"Well, then," said Monty, "admitting the story's true for the sake of
argument, how do you propose to get on