"And did you see any of its contents?"
"No, sir," said Bones confidentially, "that's the most interestin' thing about the box. It contains magic—which, of course, honoured sir and Excellency, is all rubbish."
Sanders took a bunch of keys from his pocket, and after a few trials opened the case and scrutinized the contents, noting the comforting fact that all the tubes were sealed. He heaved a deep sigh of thankfulness.
"You didn't by chance discover anything about the missing cultures, Bones?" he asked mildly.
Bones shook his head, shrugged his shoulders, and looked disconsolately at his chief.
"You think I've been feeble, but I haven't lost hope, sir," he said, with fine resolution. "I've got a feelin' that if I were allowed to go into the forest, disguised, sir, as a sort of half-witted native chap, sir——"
"Disguised!" said Hamilton. "Good Lord, what do you want a disguise for?"