Allan and the Holy Flower | Page 9

are very like gorillas."
"Now you mention it, so have I, Allan. Indeed, once I saw a /soko/,
though some way off, a huge, brown ape which stood on its hind legs
and drummed upon its chest with its fists. I didn't see it for long
because I ran away."
"The third is that this yellow orchid would be worth a great deal of

money if one could dig it up and take it to England."
"I think I told you, Allan, that I valued it at £20,000, so that conclusion
of yours is not original."
"The fourth is that I should like to dig up that orchid and get a share of
the £20,000."
Brother John became intensely interested.
"Ah!" he said, "now we are getting to the point. I have been wondering
how long it would take you to see it, Allan, but if you are slow, you are
sure."
"The fifth is," I went on, "that such an expedition to succeed would
need a great deal of money, more than you or I could find. Partners
would be wanted, active or sleeping, but partners with cash."
Brother John looked towards the window of the room in which Charlie
Scroope was in bed, for being still weak he went to rest early.
"No," I said, "he's had enough of Africa, and you told me yourself that
it will be two years before he is really strong again. Also there's a lady
in this case. Now listen. I have taken it on myself to write to that lady,
whose address I found out while he didn't know what he was saying. I
have said that he was dying, but that I hoped he might live. Meanwhile,
I added, I thought she would like to know that he did nothing but rave
of her; also that he was a hero, with a big H twice underlined. My word!
I did lay it on about the hero business with a spoon, a real hotel gravy
spoon. If Charlie Scroope knows himself again when he sees my
description of him, well, I'm a Dutchman, that's all. The letter caught
the last mail and will, I hope, reach the lady in due course. Now listen
again. Scroope wants me to go to England with him to look after him
on the voyage--that's what he says. What he means is that he hopes I
might put in a word for him with the lady, if I should chance to be
introduced to her. He offers to pay all my expenses and to give me
something for my loss of time. So, as I haven't seen England since I
was three years old, I think I'll take the chance."

Brother John's face fell. "Then how about the expedition, Allan?" he
asked.
"This is the first of November," I answered, "and the wet season in
those parts begins about now and lasts till April. So it would be no use
trying to visit your Pongo friends till then, which gives me plenty of
time to go to England and come out again. If you'll trust that flower to
me I'll take it with me. Perhaps I might be able to find someone who
would be willing to put down money on the chance of getting the plant
on which it grew. Meanwhile, you are welcome to this house if you
care to stay here."
"Thank you, Allan, but I can't sit still for so many months. I'll go
somewhere and come back." He paused and a dreamy look came into
his dark eyes, then went on, "You see, Brother, it is laid on me to
wander and wander through all this great land until--I know."
"Until you know what?" I asked, sharply.
He pulled himself together with a jerk, as it were, and answered with a
kind of forced carelessness.
"Until I know every inch of it, of course. There are lots of tribes I have
not yet visited."
"Including the Pongo," I said. "By the way, if I can get the money
together for a trip up there, I suppose you mean to come too, don't you?
If not, the thing's off so far as I am concerned. You see, I am reckoning
on you to get us through the Mazitu and into Pongo-land by the help of
your friends."
"Certainly I mean to come. In fact, if you don't go, I shall start alone. I
intend to explore Pongo-land even if I never come out of it again."
Once more I looked at him as I answered:
"You are ready to risk a great deal for a flower, John. Or are you
looking for more than a flower? If so, I hope you will tell me the truth."

This I said as I was aware that Brother