(All Rights RESERVED.) THE DOCTOR'S PROTEGEE.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 15 May 1912, Page 2

(All Rights RESERVED.) THE DOCTOR'S PROTEGEE.

By ALBERT LEE,

Author of "The Baronet in Cordoroy," "The Key of the Eoly House," King Stork of the Netherlands/* " The Black Disc," &c.

Published By Special Arrangement.

CHAPTER XXXVl.— {Continued^

On© thing remained, and that was to take counsel with Hesketh. His advice was to take the risks. The probabilities were tihat since the trident had not been hidden—according to the date on the manuscript—more than five years, Sechele, the African potentate, was yet alive, unless he had fallen in the meantime in a tribal fight. The Shake was worth the trouble, and tfhe expense was already 'provided for, while some amount of security could be assured by taking a score of well-armed men who, on the promise of good pay, would welcome the thought of a serious adventure. He named offhand a dozen who, having been roughly treated by the disaster in Cabesterre, would be glad of some employment which would provide them with money that would put them on their feet again; and probably there would be little difficulty in finding another dozen when we began to look for them seriously.

"When shall we start?" asked Teresina, who had been quietly listening.

"We, my darling?" I cried. "You must stay with Mrs. Hesketh at Anselme while we prosecute the search."

"I shall do nothing of the sort, Wilfred. Where my husband goes I go," she answered, decisively; but on the instant I concluded that if this was her attitude the expedition was practically set aside once for all, since no one could seriously think of Iher entering on an enterprise so fraught with danger. When I said as much, she exclaimed, half in earnest, and part way in jest:

"Well, Wilfred, if you stay at Anselme I shall have to go without you. The money has to be found. My father said that when my birthday came I was to open the ScarletCross package, and follow out the instructions contained in it. Suppose that I had not known you, I should have been busy in carrying out the search, and the only differ" ence —and a delightful one—is, that now I have your help and advice." She laughed when she gazed into my face and saw the look there, and before I could make any protest she declared:

"Wilfred, that treasure must be found, and if you do not set about the search at once I shall do so myself!"

My endeavors to dissuade her had not the slightest effect. She sat down in pretty stubbornness, and to every argument advanced asked when the expedition would start. The sooner the work was begun the better she would be pleased, for she was anxious to return to England and settle down in a home there.

/'At the Bartons, Wilfred, and with Mrs. Dawney as my housekeeper," she added. Then, coming over to me and kissing me, she whispered: "Say no more, my love, for 1 intend to go. Where my tusband goea I go. If he is in danger, I shall share it."

'"I would rather let the money rot than take you to a country where you would be exposed to such risks," I expostulated.

"It doesn't matter one bit, my love. I mean to have the money if it really exists, and was not an imaginary thing in the mind of that ecoentric Italian."

The only thing remaining after that was to prepare for the journey into Sechele's territory, and had anyone taken note of our doings, he might very well have imagined that we were making ready for a filibustering expedition, the object of which was only known to ourselves. We had returned to Anselme, and Peel, who, in his day, had been a sailor, having completely recovered, begged to be allowed to take part in the enterprise. It had so (happened that he had travelled through Machodi, and thought that while it wag best to be prepared for accidents, there was no very great danger threatening. I listened to his suggg-estions in some astonishment. Hesketili's mind and mine were running on rifles, revolvers, and ammunition, but his was bent on food, on comfortable, portable tents, and cheap equipment. Nothing would please him but that we should make for Rosque, the neamit port to Anselme, and when once we got there he began to busy himself concerning folding bedsteads, mosquito curtains, kit-bags, waterproof clothing, portable ' cooking apparatus, filters, water-coolers, camp lanterns, air-tight trunks, and the like. ;To all intents and purposes he seemed to be dealing with the enterprise as a pleausre expedition, with untold wealth at the end of it, to be won with the minimum of danger.

Hesketh once or twice suggested that Peel wias playing a game of bluff; and yet he had experience behind him. He had gone right through the land, and was able to tell us where we should find sandy flats, and rivers with low, sedgy. banks; where water would be found, and we should travel on long, gentle ulopes and grassy plains. When in

past times he had dealt with difficulties on the Anselme plantation, he had made some apparently extravagant suggestions, Hesketh had found him master of his work; and this constituted a fair reason for taking him on trust with regard to the journey into Sechele's domain. Nevertheless, while Peel was given carte blanche in his own particular share of the preparations, Hesketh and I did our very best to convert our expedition into a travelling arsenal. The half-dozen men who had gone with us to Patri© Island were ready to join us, and they were able to find us such a number of stalwart fellows that we had sufficient force at our disposal before the third day had passed after our return to Anselme.