fluent observations on the slackness of his paddlers, realized that his
acquaintance with Central Africa was an extensive one. He cursed in
Swahili and Portuguese, and his language was forcible and impolite.
"Well," he said at last, "I'll be getting along. I'll make a fishing
village for the night, and I ought to reach my destination in a week. I
shan't be seeing you again, so I'll say good-bye."

"How do you suppose you're going to get out of the country?" asked Bones
curiously.

Mr. Corklan laughed. "So long!" he said.

"One moment, my dashin' old explorer," said Bones. "A little
formality--I want to see your trunks opened."

A look of suspicion dawned on the man's face. "What for?"

"A little formality, my jolly old hero," said Bones.

"Why didn't you say so before?" growled the man, and had his two trunks
landed. "I suppose you know you're exceeding your duty?"

"I didn't know--thanks for tellin' me," said Bones. "The fact is, sir
an' fellow-man, I'm the Custom House officer."

The man opened his bags, and Bones explored. He found three bottles of
whisky, and these he extracted.

"What's the idea?" asked Mr. Corklan.

Bones answered him by breaking the bottles on a near-by stone.

"Here, what the dickens----"

"Wine is a mocker," said Bones, "strong drink is ragin'. This is what is
termed in the land of Hope an' Glory a prohibition State, an' I'm
entitled to fine you five hundred of the brightest an' best for
attemptin' to smuggle intoxicants into our innocent country."

Bones expected an outburst; instead, his speech evoked no more than a
snigger.

"You're funny," said the man.

"My friends tell me so," admitted Bones. "But there's nothin' funny
about drink. Acquainted as you are with the peculiar workin's of the
native psychology, dear sir, you will understand the primitive cravin'
of the untutored mind for the enemy that we put in our mouths to steal
away our silly old brains. I wish you 'bon voyage.'"

"So long," said Mr. Corklan.

Bones went back to the Residency and made his report, and there, for the
time being, the matter ended. It was not unusual for wandering
scientists, manufacturers, and representatives of shipping companies to
arrive armed with letters of introduction or command, and to be
dispatched into the interior. The visits, happily, were few and far
between. On this occasion Sanders, being uneasy, sent one of his spies
to follow the adventurer, with orders to report any extra