The ivory may be there.

If the Germans know it's there they're naturally afraid the British government would claim the whole district the minute the secret was out.

Their plan may possibly be to wait until a boundary dispute arises in the ordinary course of time (keeping a cautious eye on the cache meanwhile, of course) and then take the Congo government side.

If they can contrive to have it acknowledged as Congo territory, they might then pick a quarrel with the Congo government--or come to some sort of terms with them." "They've patience," I said, "if they're playing that game!" Courtney raised his eyebrows until his forehead was a mass of deep wrinkles.

Then he blew a dozen smoke rings.
"Patient--perhaps.