They only made him fitter for the work he had undertaken.
"How long will it take ?" asked Guy.
Durnovo tugged at his strange, curtain-like moustache.

His mouth was hidden; it was quite impossible to divine his thoughts.
"Three months to get there," he answered at length.

"One month to pick the leaf, and then you can bring the first crop down to the coast and home, while Meredith and I stay on at the plateau." "I could be home again in eight months ?" "Certainly! We thought that you might work the sale of the stuff in London, and in a couple of years or so, when the thing is in swing, Meredith will come home.

We can safely leave the cultivation in native hands when once we have established ourselves up there, and made ourselves respected among the tribes." A significance in his tone made Guy Oscard look up inquiringly.
"How ?" "You know my way with the natives," answered Durnovo with a cruel smile.
"It is the only way.

There are no laws in Central Africa except the laws of necessity." Oscard was nothing if not outspoken.
"I do not like your way with the natives," he said, with a pleasant smile.
"That is because you do not know them.