Part 2 (1/2)

”I want to describe the personal habits of anis I said 'personal' habits Do you take me?”

”No, sir”

”You think I should use another word, and say, perhaps, 'distinctive' habits I say personal Now, you take a lion--a bush lion or a veld lion, a yellow lion or a black lion, young or old

That lion, whichever one you take, is a lion by hiot his own character and his own experience All lions have ways in common because they're built alike They're heavy and ame; and because they're heavy they ot to adopt co Good; but one lion differs froh the list So, I say, one must study the personal habits of aniive a true description of the better than to study ani with excitement

”And the two of you think you would like to join me in my expedition?”

Mr Hume looked at the theerly

”Think it will turn out a picnic--a glorified sort of ca-out, with black fellows to wait on you, and a lot of shooting and fishi+ng? Is that your idea?”

”We were talking about that this ,” said Co was hard work We are prepared for rough living”

”That's right And you tellanxiety to relatives, eh?”

”We neither of us have near relatives”

Mr Hu them draw deep breaths

”See

The great danger in Central Africa is from fever--not from animals or blacks” Here he took down a bottle of white powder, and placed a large pinch in a wine-glass of water ”Quinine is the traveler's stand-by, but there are some who cannot take quinine, It has no effect on them, and such people have no business to set foot in fever districts Drink this?”

Co, when his turn caot the dose down, and sive ive you one in return I will make inquiries about you, and I would advise you to make inquiries about me You can come back here to-morrow afternoon, and if we are mutually satisfied, ill then fix up a contract”

”I don't think we require a reference,” said Venning

”Why not?” said Mr Hu red--”because you have lived ahed heartily with a deep ruh

”Animals are tricky, boy; and yet,” he added, ”there nity in death that is grand

Go and make your inquiries, lads I am Dave Hume, the hunter, and my life has been passed in wild lands, but there are some in London who knowovertopped him by inches, yet he did not look either sy, and his head, poised on a massive neck, ell set, with the chin raised He was a ht in the face His eyes had a yellowish tinge, and in their colour and their calhtened by the tawny hue of a long beard

The next day, the references having been satisfactorily followed up, the contract was entered upon, and the two boys paid over the sureed to let theht make, from any source whatever

”Profits, Mr Hu, or fro The chances are, of course, that we may lose all before we are a month out, but it is alell to be business-like There is gold in Central Africa We old reef There are new animals in the forest We land it would fetch a large suorilla in the zoological gardens of Europe”

”A gorilla!” said Venning, thinking of a picture he had seen of an erecta rifle-barrel into an arch as if it were a cane