covered a woman--who was jealous of a man--who was just then making
love to the dusky damsel particularly favored by Hassan; and in that
roundabout way we discovered that Hassan intended to take a trip very
soon toward Mount Elgon, where, if you please, he was to take part in
Professor Schillingschen's ethnological studies. On condition that he
held his tongue until I gave him leave to talk, I promised that young
policeman--to put him en rapport with Schillingschen's doings as
swiftly as may be. Then I returned to Mombasa, and got your code
letter saying you would head this way. It all fitted in like a game of
chess."

"How in the world did you get that letter so soon?" demanded Fred.
"The missionary chap was to mail it in Ujiji, via Salisbury, Rhodesia."

"I suppose he simply didn't do that, that's all," Monty answered. "The
bank manager told me he received it in the mission mail bag--from
Ujiji, yes, but by way of Muanza, Tabora, and Dar es Salaam. It reached
me in the nick of time. I must have been marching nearly parallel with
you chaps for about a week!"

"If coincidence of evidence means anything," said Will "we're all on a
red-hot scent! That Baganda we have in our outfit is our prisoner.
One of Schillingschen's pet pimps. He swears Hassan--or rather some
old native whose name he doesn't know--was to meet Schillingschen in
these parts and lead him to where he actually helped bury the ivory,
years ago!"

"We may have difficulty finding him," said I. "Mount Elgon's big!"

"What about Brown?" asked Monty. "I hope you haven't made him partner?
I agree, of course, if you have, but I hope not!"

"Nothing doing!"

"No. Why should we?"

"Brown's all right, but a present ought to satisfy him."

We began to tell Monty about Brown's cattle that Coutlass stole, and
the Masai looted from Coutlass and us.

"Were they branded?" asked Monty.

"Branded and hoof- and ear-marked," said I.

"Then they ought to be traceable, even among the huge herds the Masai
have. I think I've influence enough by this time with this government
to have those cattle traced and returned to Brown."

"They're his only love!" said I. "Do that for him, and he'll never
wait to receive a present!"

Dawn found us still recounting our adventures and Monty alternately
laughing and frowning.

"I regret Coutlass" he said, shaking the ashes from his pipe at last
when Kazimoto brought our breakfast. "I regretted having to throw him