.

THE FIRST CONSIGNMENT.
Since all that I can ever do for thee Is to do nothing, may'st thou never see, Never divine, the all that nothing costeth me.
One morning, three months later, Guy Oscard drew up in line his flying column.

He was going back to England with the first consignment of Simiacine.

During the twelve weeks that lay behind there had been constant reference made to his little body of picked men, and the leader had selected with a grave deliberation that promised well.
The lost soldier that was in him was all astir in his veins as he reviewed his command in the cool air of early morning.

The journey from Msala to the Plateau had occupied a busy two months.