The merchant presently appeared at his door in shirt and breeches, and carrying a revolver.

“You got a cable from London ordering eighty gallons of petrol to be held ready for Lieutenant Smith?” said Daventry.

“So.  Dat is quite true.”

“Well, here is Lieutenant Smith, and he wants the petrol at once.”

Mr. Daventry explained where the petrol was to be sent.

“No, it cannot be done, Mr. Daventry.  It is Sunday morning.  My store is closed, and I do not understand the hurry.”

“Lieutenant Smith is off to the Solomon Islands to save his father from being eaten by cannibals.  There isn’t a moment to lose.”

“Dat is strange.  For vy should I take oil for a motor-boat up country?  You are playing games vid me?”

“Of course not.  He’s not going by motor-boat, but by aeroplane.”

“Oho!  Tell dat to the marines.”

“Hang it, Van Kloof, listen without interrupting.  Mr. Smith has come by aeroplane from London, and is going on at once.  Give me the key of your store, and we’ll go and get the stuff ourselves.”

“Veil, of all the—­pardon me, gentlemen, but you vill allow me to be shocked to hear such news at five o’clock on a Sunday morning.  I vill come vid you.  I must vake up some coolies to carry the cans.  But it shall be done; I vill myself see to it.  I must look vell at dis aeroplane.”

“You’re sure we can rely on you?”

“I vill bring all before an hour, you may trust me for dat.”

“Then we’ll hurry back, Smith, and see about your breakfast.  What about your man, by the way?”

“He’s cleaning the engine by searchlight, and eating sardines and biscuits, or something of the sort.”

“Couldn’t we fetch him?”

“I’m afraid there isn’t time, and besides, he can hardly leave the aeroplane unattended.  It’s hard lines, but I’ll make it up to him when we get back.”

They returned to the bungalow.  A steaming bath was ready.  When Smith had bathed, he found hot coffee and eggs awaiting him.  He ate and drank ravenously, and in a quarter of an hour declared that he must get back to the aeroplane.

“Nonsense,” said Daventry.  “The petrol won’t be there for half-an-hour yet.  You’ll just lie down and rest, and have a comfortable smoke.  I’ll go up the hill and take some food to your man.”

“You’re a good fellow,” said Smith, dropping into a capacious arm-chair.  Mrs. Daventry arranged a cushion behind his head, Miss Bunce placed a stool for him to stretch his legs on, and in half-a-minute he was fast asleep.

“Don’t wake him for an hour,” said Mr. Daventry, as he left the house; “I’ll see that all is ready for him.”

The sun was rising when Mrs. Daventry, now dressed for outdoors, wakened the sleeper by lifting his hand.  He sprang up with a start.

“Now, don’t be agitated,” said Mrs. Daventry.  “It’s just six o’clock.  Jack has gone to see that all is ready for you, and Miss Bunce and I are coming to see you start.  Really, I quite envy her, though I’m sure I should never have the courage to go up in the air.”