Bones nodded. "I'll just drive over and see him," he said, climbed back into bed, and was asleep in a second.
Hamilton put out the light and went back to the Residency. "I hadn't the heart to cut his ear off," he said regretfully. "I'm afraid we shan't be able to consult Bones till the morning."
Sanders nodded. "Anyway, I will wait for the morning. I have told Abiboo to get stores and wood aboard, and to have steam in the Zaire. Let us emulate Bones."
"Heaven forbid!" said Hamilton piously.
Bones came blithely to breakfast, a dapper and a perfectly groomed figure. He received the news of the ominous happenings in the N'gombi country with that air of profound solemnity which so annoyed Hamilton.
"I wish you had called me in the night," he said gravely. "Dear old officer, I think it was due to me."
"Called you! Called you! Why—why——" spluttered Hamilton.
"In fact, we did call you Bones, but we could not wake you," smoothed Sanders.
A look of amazement spread over the youthful face of Lieutenant Tibbetts. "You called me?" he asked incredulously. "Called me?"
"You!" hissed Hamilton. "I not only called you, but I kicked you. I poured water on you, and I chucked you up to the roof of the hut and dropped you."