When we go back home they'll put us through the shorter catechism."
"What's wrong about our scheme?" demanded the Colonel.
"Well, it's this contract. We agree to pay the king for two hundred laborers, and his head-man makes them work. If the head-man straps a fellow, it's by the king's orders, not ours. But we pay each man for his own labor. The point is, however, that each man doesn't want to work—it's not voluntary labor, but"
"But me no buts" McDonald whacked his fist upon the table. "We've worried along four months and haven't done two days' work. Tried everything, paid 'em, jollied 'em, fed 'em, begged 'em, pleaded with 'em—no use. Think of the waste; think of the mill-workers back in England who may become dependent on the cotton which we ought to raise. Look at Feilden, just appointed Governor of Wau to succeed Sinclair who died three weeks ago. Harley pegged out six months ahead of Sinclair; eight governors of Wau died in one-two-three order. 'Feilden, old chap,' says I, 'don't go up and try to run that show at Wau.' He knew exactly what I meant, but he only said, 'The Empire must be built.' With such men as Feilden in the Sudan I want to get results, like the rest of them. Anyhow, the
