tter. We can talk here without
being overheard. Send those natives away!"

"Certainly not!" I answered, but I reckoned without the professor and
the fear his hairy presence instilled in them.

"Go!" he said simply in the native tongue; and although I ordered them
at once to stay by me they ran back to the camp as fast as their legs
could carry them.

"How do you feel now?" the professor asked.

I stared at him, wondering just what he meant.

"I mean, without a pistol!"

I saw the point. The rest-camp was not far away, but as far as I could
judge we were quite out of sight from it, and unless there should
happen to be some one hiding among the rocks at the foot of the hill
behind me we were quite alone, unless, as was probable, he had placed
one or two of his own hangers-on in hiding within call.

"This grave should be a lesson to you!" he grinned.

"It has been," I answered.

"An illustration," he suggested.

"A period," said I.

"To your youth?" he asked maliciously. "To the age of folly?"

"To the time," I said, "when any man could blackmail me. I would go
into that grave ten times rather than tell you what you want to know!"

"There are worse places than the grave!" he said, beginning to leer
savagely. His eyes glittered. He could scarcely find patience for
argument. The thin veneer of his first mock-friendliness was gone
utterly.

"I imagine that German colonial life is far worse than death," said I.

"German will be the only rule in Africa," he answered. "You fools of
English have set your hopes on the Christian missionary. No
weaker-backed camel could exist! The German Michael is wiser! Islam
is the key to the native mind--Islam and the lash--they understand
that! In a few years there will be nothing in Africa that is not
German from core to epidermis! As to whether you shall live to see
that day or not depends on yourself, my young friend!"

Being quite sure that he had a plan in mind that nothing would prevent
him from unfolding, I did not waste effort or words on prompting him,
but sat still. My silence and apparent lack of curiosity disturbed
him; there is nothing your bully likes better than to force his victim
into a war of words.

"I will be short and blunt with you!" he began again. "I know your
history! You were in Portuguese Africa with Lord Montdidier. There he
came in possession of the secret of Tippoo Tib's ivory; how, I do not
yet know, but you shall tell me th