The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 83: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE RIVER OF DARKNESS. 275 for his furlough 1s up, ard tomorrow he leaves for India to rejoin his regi- ment. He had come up yesterday from the country, where he had put ina week at grouse hunting with his brother, Sir Lucas Chutney, and today he intended bidding good by to old friends, and attending to the making of a few purchases. | Downing Street is not far away, and presently the cab rolls into Whitehall and draws up before the big granite building. Guy makes his way through the spacious corridors thronged with clerks, civilians, foreigners from every part of the globe, and at last reaches the private apartments of the chief. The Right Honorable Lord is deeply engaged, but his private secretary receives Chutney cordially, and, leading him back into a still more secluded and stately apartment, motions him to a soft chair and sits down opposite him. ‘‘ Captain Chutney,’’ he begins abruptly, ‘‘ you leave for India tomorrow?’’ ‘India Mail, eight o’clock in the morning,’’ Guy replies briefly. ‘“Very well. We are going to intrust you with a very important commis- sion. You will stop off at Aden, cross the Gulf of Aden in the semi weekly steamer, and present these documents to Sir Arthur Ashby, the Political Resident at Zaila, the fortified town of the Somali Coast Protectorate.’’ The secretary hands Guy two bulky envelopes stamped and sealed with the government seal. ‘“They relate to affairs of importance,’’ he continues. ‘‘ Your gallant record justifies us in intrusting the papers to your care. You can return in time to take the next steamer. Perhaps I had better tell you this much in confidence,’’ the secretary adds: ; ‘We have received from certain sources information to the effect that the Eimir of Harar, on the southern border of Abyssinia, contemplates at no dis- tant date an attack on Zaila. Our garrison there is weak, and, as you prob- ably know, the Somali country. is treacherous and unreliable. . These papers contain necessary instructions for the Political Resident. ’’ The secretary rises, and Guy gladly follows his example. ‘““ I will see that the papers Are delivered,’’ he says earnestly. ‘“Thank you,’’ the secretary responds. ‘‘I am sure that you will. I wish you a safe voyage, Captain Chutney, and‘fresh Burmese laurels, for you will no doubt tale part in the Chittagong expedition.’’ They shake hands warmly, and in five minutes Guy is rattling citywards again through the increasing fog. Long-afterwards he looks back on that morning as the inost memorable day of his life. At present his commission sits lightly on his mind. He attends to all his duties in London, catches the India Mail, and two days later is steaming across the Mediterranean on board the P. and O. steamship Cleopatra. CHAPTER I.—TuHE STOLEN DESPATCHES. STEADILY the Cleopatra had traversed the Mediterranean, passed through the Suez Canal, plowed the burning waters of the Red Sea, and now, on this ° EOMICHoOOkKsSnco 5}