Williams had no sympathy with those who roamed the equatorial forests. His own heart was set upon the ice-floes of the Arctic.
"Look here," he cried, "what's this I hear about you fellows presenting a million pounds to some Missionary Society?"
"Who told you that?" said Crouch.
"Why, I heard it just now from Du Cane."
"News travels quickly," said Crouch. "But, a million is rather an exaggeration Three hundred and eighty thousand is the sum."
"And it all goes to a Missionary Society!"
"Yes," said Max, "you didn't expect us to keep it, did you? It was slave-trade money. We wouldn't touch a penny of it. Why, it would burn holes in our pockets."
"You see," said Edward, taking his pipe from his mouth, "a chap called Mayhew--nice sort of fellow from what we saw of him--has gone up into the very part of the country that we came from. He wants to civilize the people; and after all, it's only fair that they should have the benefit of the money, for it was they who earned it."
Crouch got to his feet, and turned his back to the fire.
"See?" he asked.