window-ledge a jar full of flowers. Also the forks and spoons were of
silver, as were the mugs, and engraved with a tremendous coat-of-arms
and a Portuguese motto.

Presently the food appeared, which was excellent and plentiful, and the
Captain, his daughter and I sat down and ate. I noted that he drank gin
and water, an innocent-looking beverage but strong as he took it. It was
offered to me, but like Miss Inez, I preferred coffee.

During the meal and afterwards while we smoked upon the veranda, I
told them as much as I thought desirable of my plans. I said that I was
engaged upon a journey of exploration of the country beyond the Zambesi,
and that having heard of this settlement, which, by the way, was called
Strathmuir, as I gathered after a place in far away Scotland where
the Captain had been born and passed his childhood, I had come here to
inquire as to how to cross the great river, and about other things.

The Captain was interested, especially when I informed him that I was
that same "Hunter Quatermain" of whom he had heard in past years, but he
told me that it would be impossible to take the waggon down into the low
bush-veld which we could see beneath us, as there all the oxen would die
of the bite of the tsetse fly. I answered that I was aware of this and
proposed to try to make an arrangement to leave it in his charge till I
returned.

"That might be managed, Mr. Quatermain," he answered. "But, man, will
you ever return? They say there are queer folk living on the other side
of the Zambesi, savage men who are cannibals, Amahagger I think they
call them. It was they who in past years cleaned out all this country,
except a few river tribes who live in floating huts or on islands among