Tom Willoughby's Scouts

n deck. The first was a tall stalwart man of some fifty years, with hard blue eyes, full red cheeks, a square chin, and a heavy blond moustache streaked with grey. He stepped somewhat je

d brown eyes that flashed a look of intelligent interest around. He walked with the lithe easy movements of athletic youth, turned to see that the porter was following with his luggage,

he elder man was tightly buttoned, suggesting a certain strain, the younger allowe

seemingly aimless movements with which a steamer, until she is well under way, responds to the signals from the bridge. In

on-coloured liquid on a table at his elbow. Beyond him four men of middle age, also provided with cigars and glasses, were playing cards, not in dignified silence, like Sarah Battle of immortal memory, but with a sort of voracity, and a voluble e

d--clean," his disjointed thoughts ran. "T'other fellow-

ce at the young Englishman. Presently he heaved himself out of his chair, tilted back h

, sir?" he said

I was at quite an obscure grammar school--not a p

's grey eye

took a chair that stood folded against on

e, s

tioner, saw nothing but benevolence there,

by--Tom W

illoughby's son

s name was

m," he went on aloud. "Saw in The Times he was gone: sorry, my lad. Haven't seen him since '98, when I was in Uganda

my father was interested in some

land,

man: went equal shares with him in a cof

he old gentleman in one of his audible asid

ad better stick to the commission business in London, and I should come out and learn planting, or at any rate

I'm an old hand; my name's Barkworth, and I was a friend of your father. My advi

r; but my brother thought it at least worth while lo

" said Mr. Bark

es

our partner. H'm!" He blew out a heavy cloud

always hoping the tide would turn, Bob suggested that he might

etent! Bosh! He'

Mr. Barkworth's tone

any information, sir. You see, it's rather awkward, deali

othing against him, but I recommend you to go carefu

any. But I've met a few jolly decent chaps, and seein

With people, now--there's the man who falls on the neck of the first comer, and wishes he hadn't. There's the man who stiffens his back and freezes, and then finds that he's lost his chance of mak

plants. Below, the blue waters, tossed by a south-east breeze, broke high upon a wilderness of rugged rocks; above, masses of cloud raced across the green heights, revealing now and then patches of bare brown rock, now and then the misty tops of distant mountains. The coastline was variegated with headlands, creeks, and bays; sout

hop among themselves, and Tom was amused at the obsequious gratitude they showed to Major von Rudenheim, the newly arrived German officer, when he dispensed them a word now and then, as a man throws a bone to a dog. The major had the place of honour next the captain, whose bearing towards hi

hby," he said pleasantly.

ite charming; but I'm not

ing you? But zere shall be pleasure and b

ct Mr. Reinecke to me

end of mine. You are lucky to

able captain was trying to pu

al from Mr. Reinecke," he said, gu

I carried from Bismarckburg to Ujiji. Zere vill vun vait me, vizout doubt. Yes, my friend Reinecke is ze model of efficiency--of German efficiency. Ze English are great colonists--s

end: at present he was slightly amused at the Teutonic self-satisfaction of th

te for our Kaiser a great empire in Africa. In ten, tventy year ze Masai, ze Wanyamwezi, ze Wakamba, ze Wahehe, and all

nd flocked to see what was happening. Tom followed them. Looking over the rail, he saw a young negro being dragged along by two petty officers, who cuffed and kicked him between their shouts of

" cried the captain.

d their curiosity being satisfi

pparently about to carry out the order. Tom, understanding German and knowing something of Ger

pay for the boy," he

Golterma

. Vell, it is your affair, not mine. Pa

? It was really absurd to have supposed that the Germans would have drowned the boy. "I wonder what Mr. Barkworth would say?" he thought. And then he sprang up and hastened to find the purser: he had suddenly remembere