uthorities might not let him land. (Had we known
all that at the time, Monty's word against him might have caused him to
be shipped back whence he came, but we did not find it out until
afterward; nor did we know the law.)

And at Mombasa we made our first united, serious mistake. It was put
to the vote. We all agreed.

"I can come ashore," said Monty, "introduce you to officialdom, get you
put up for the club, and be useful generally. That, though, 'll lend
color to the theory that you're in league with me--whereas, if I leave
you to your own resources, that may help lose my scent. When they pick
it up again we'll be knowing better where we stand."

"If you came ashore for a few hours we'd have the benefit of your
prestige," said I.

"I admit it."

"I suspect a title's mighty near as useful on British territory as in
N'York or Boston," said Will. "We'd bask in smiles."

"Not wholly," said Monty. "There's another side to that. There's an
English official element that would rather be rude to some poor devil
with a title than draw pay (and it loves its pay, you may believe me!).
You'd have friends in high places, but make enemies, too, if I go
ashore with you."

"What's your own proposal?" Fred demanded.

"I've stated it. I want you fellows to choose. There's no need of me
ashore--that's to say, I've a draft to bearer for the amount you three
have in the common fund--here, take it. If you think you'll need more
than that, then I'll have to go to the bank with you and cash some of
my own draft. I think you'll have enough."

"Plenty," said Will.

"Let's send him home!" proposed Fred.

"How about communications?" We had contrived a code already with the
aid of a pocket Portuguese-English dictionary, of which Fred and Monty
each possessed a similar edition.

"The Mombasa Bank, Will. You keep them posted as to your whereabouts.
When I write the bank manager I'll ask him to keep my address a secret."

So we said good-by to Monty and left him on board, and wished we hadn't
a dozen times before noon next day, and a hundred times within the
week. The last sight we had of him was as the shore boat came
alongside the wharf and the half-breed customs officials pounced
smiling on us. My eyes were keenest. I could see Monty pacing the
upper deck, too rapidly for evidence of peace of mind--a
straight-standing, handsome figure of a man. I pointed him out to the
others, and we joked about him. Then the gl