The Keepers of the Kings Peace | Page 9

that here at last he had met a kindred soul.
"It must be awfully interesting to write books," she sighed. "I've tried --but can never invent anything."
"Of course, in my case--" corrected Bones.
"I suppose you just sit down with a pen in your hand and imagine all sorts of things," she mused, directing her feet to the Residency.
"This is the story of my life," explained Bones earnestly. "Not fiction... but all sorts of adventures that actually happened.
"To whom?" she asked.
"To me," claimed Bones, louder than was necessary.
"Oh!" she said.
"Don't start 'Oh--ing,' " said Bones in a huff. "If you and I are going to be good friends, dear old Miss Hamilton, don't say 'Oh!' "
"Don't be a bully, Bones." She turned on him so fiercely that he shrank back.
"Play the game," he said feebly; "play the game, dear old sister!"
She led him captive to the stoep and deposited him in the easiest chair she could find.
From that day he ceased to be anything but a slave, except on one point.
The question of missions came up at tiffin, and Miss Hamilton revealed the fact that she favoured the High Church and held definite views on the clergy.
Bones confessed that he was a Wesleyan.
"Do you mean to tell me that you're a Nonconformist?" she asked incredulously.
"That's my dinky little religion, dear old Miss Hamilton," said Bones. "I'd have gone into the Church only I hadn't enough--enough---''
"Brains?" suggested Hamilton.
"Call is the word," said Bones. "I wasn't called--or if I was I was out --haw--haw! That's a rippin' little bit of persiflage, Miss Hamilton?"
"Be serious, Bones," said the girl; " you mustn't joke about things."
She put him through a cross--examination to discover the extent of his convictions. In self--defence Bones, with only the haziest idea of the doctrine he defended, summarily dismissed certain of Miss Hamilton's most precious beliefs.
"But, Bones," she persisted, " if I asked you to change--"
Bones shook his head.
"Dear old friend," he said solemnly, " there are two things I'll never do --alter the faith of my distant but happy youth, or listen to one disparagin' word about the jolliest old sister that ever--"
"That will do. Bones," she said, with dignity. "I can see that you don't like me as I thought you did--what do you think, Mr. Sanders?"
Sanders smiled.
"I can hardly judge--you see," he added apologetically, "I'm a Wesleyan too."
"Oh!" said Patricia, and fled in confusion.
Bones rose in silence, crossed to his chief and held out his hand.
"Brother," he said brokenly.
"What the devil are you doing?" snarled Sanders.
"Spoken like a true Christian, dear old Excellency and sir," murmured Bones. "We'll bring her back to the fold."
He stepped nimbly to the door, and the serviette ring that Sanders threw with unerring aim caught his angular shoulder as he vanished.
That same night Sanders had joyful news to impart. He came into the Residency to find Bones engaged in mastering the art of embroidery under the girl's tuition.
Sanders interrupted what promised to be a most artistic execution.
"Who says a joy--ride to the upper waters of the Isisi?"
Hamilton jumped up.
"Joy--ride?" he said, puzzled.
Sanders nodded.
"We leave to--morrow for the Lesser Isisi to settle a religious palaver --Bucongo of the Lesser Isisi is getting a little too enthusiastic a Christian, and Ahmet has been sending some queer reports. I've been putting off the palaver for weeks, but Administration says it has no objection to my making a picnic of duty--so we'll all go."
"Tri--umph!" said Hamilton. " Bones, leave your needlework and go overhaul the stores."
Bones, kneeling on a chair, his elbows on the table, looked up.
"As jolly old Francis Drake said when the Spanish Armada---"
"To the stores, you insubordinate beggar!" commanded Hamilton, and Bones made a hurried exit.
The accommodation of the Zaire was limited, but there was the launch, a light--draught boat which was seldom used except for tributary work.
"I could put Bones in charge of the Wiggle," he said, "but he'd be pretty sure to smash her up. Miss Hamilton will have my cabin, and you and I could take the two smaller cabins."
Bones, to whom it was put, leapt at the suggestion, brushing aside all objections. They were answered before they were framed.
As for the girl, she was beside herself with joy. "Will there be any fighting?" she asked breathlessly. "Shall we be attacked?"
Sanders shook his head smilingly.
"All you have to do," said Bones confidently, "is to stick to me. Put your faith in old Bones. When you see the battle swayin' an' it isn't certain which way it's goin', look for my jolly old banner wavin' above the stricken field."
"And be sure it is his banner," interrupted Hamilton, "and not his large feet. Now the last time we had a fight..."
And he proceeded to publish and utter a scandalous libel, Bones protesting incoherently the while.
The expedition was on the point of starting when Hamilton