German East, and by
far the greater part in the Congo."

"Then that ten per cent. offer by the British is a bluff?" asked Yerkes.

"Out of date," said Monty. "The other governments offer nothing. The
German government might make terms with a German or a Greek--not with
an Englishman. The Congo government is an unknown quantity, but would
probably see reason if approached the proper way."

"The U. S. Consul tells me," said Yerkes, "that the Congo government is
the rottenest aggregate of cutthroats, horse-thieves, thugs, yeggs,
common-or-ordinary hold-ups, and sleight-of-hand professors that the
world ever saw in one God-forsaken country. He says they're of every
nationality, but without squeam of any kind--hang or shoot you as soon
as look at you! He says if there's any ivory buried in those parts
they've either got it and sold it, or else they buried it themselves
and spread the story for a trap to fetch greenhorns over the border!"

"That man's after the stuff himself!" said Fred. "All he wanted to do
was stall you off!"

"That man Schillingschen the doctor told us about," said Monty, "is
suspected of knowing where to look for some of the Congo hoard. He'll
bear watching. He's in British East Africa at present--said to be
combing Nairobi and other places for a certain native. He is known to
stand high in the favor of the German government, but poses as a
professor of ethnology."

"He shall study deathnology," said Fred, "if he gets in my way!"

"The Congo people," said Monty, "would have dug up the stuff, of
course, if they'd known where to look for it. Our people believe that
the Germans do know whereabouts to look for it, but dread putting the
Congo crowd on the scent. If we're after it we've got to do two things
besides agreeing between ourselves."

"Deal me in, Monty!" said Yerkes.

"Nil desperandum, Didums duce, then!" said Fred. "I propose Monty for
leader. Those against the motion take their shirts off, and see if
they can lick me! Nobody pugnacious? The ayes have it! Talk along,
Didums!"

For all Fred's playfulness, Yerkes and I came in of our free and
considered will, and Monty understood that.

"We've got to separate," he said, "and I've got to interview the King
of Belgium."

"If that were my job," grinned Yerkes, "I'd prob'ly tell him things!"

"I don't pretend to like him," said Monty. "But it seems to me I can
serve our best interests by going to Brussels. He can't very w