"I told you," said he, "you would not approve."
Harden swung round in his chair, with a gesture of disgust.
"I would like to see the ivory trade stopped," he cried, in a sudden flood of anger, very rare in a man naturally prone to be unexcitable and mild. "I regard the elephant as a noble animal--the noblest animal that lives. I myself have shot many, but the beast has always had a chance, though I will not deny the odds were always heavily on me. Still, when I find myself face to face with a rogue elephant, I know that my life is in danger. Now, there is no danger in your method, which is the method of the slaughter-house. At this rate, very soon there will be no elephants left in Africa."
"I'm afraid," said Cæsar, with a shrug of the shoulders, "we would never agree, because you're a sportsman and I'm a trader. In the meantime, I will do all I can to make you comfortable during your stay at Makanda."
"Is that the name of this place?" asked Max.
"Yes," said the Portuguese. "There was a native village when I came here--just a few scattered huts. The natives called the place Makanda, which, I believe, means a crater. The hills which surround us are evidently the walls of an extinct volcano. But, to come back to business, I can provide a hut for your Fan attendants, but they must be ordered not to leave the stockade. You have noticed, perhaps, that I employ a few Arabs. I am fond of Arabs myself; they are such excellent cooks. An Arab is usually on sentry at the gate of the stockade. That man will receive orders to shoot any one of the Fans who endeavours to pass the gate. These methods are rather arbitrary, I admit; but in the heart of Africa, what would you have? It is necessary to rule with an iron hand. Were I to be lax in discipline, my life would be in danger. Also, I must request you and your friends not to leave the stockade, unattended by either de Costa or myself. The truth is, there are several hostile tribes in the neighbourhood, and it is only with the greatest difficulty that I can succeed in maintaining peace."
"I'm sure," said Harden, "you will find us quite ready to do anything you wish. After all, the station is yours; and in this country a man makes his own laws."
"That is so," said Cæsar; and added, "I'm responsible to no one but myself."
This man had an easy way of talking and a plausible manner that would have deceived a more acute observer than Edward Harden. As he spoke he waved his hand, as if the whole matter were a trifle. He ran on in the same casual fashion, with an arm thrown carelessly over the back of his chair, sending the smoke of his cigarette in rings towards the ceiling.
"Most of us come to Africa to make money," said he; "and as the climate is unhealthy, the heat unbearable, and the inhabitants savages, we desire to make that money as quickly as possible, and then return to Europe. That is my intention. For myself, I keep tolerably well; but de Costa here is a kind of living ague. He is half consumed with malaria; he can't sleep by night, he lies awake with chattering teeth. Sometimes his temperature is so high that his pulse is racing. At other times he is so weak that he is unable to walk a hundred paces. He looks forward to the day when he shakes the dust of Africa from his shoes and returns to his native land, which--according to him--is Portugal, though, I believe, he was born in Jamaica."