The next day, the references having been satisfactorily followed up, the contract was entered upon, and the two boys paid over the sum of Pounds 50 each to David Hume, who in his turn agreed to let them share in any profits which the expedition might make, from any source whatever.

“Profits, Mr. Hume?” they asked.

“Profits from hunting, from trading, or from discovery.  I don’t say that we shall make anything.  The chances are, of course, that we may lose all before we are a month out, but it is always well to be business-like.  There is gold in Central Africa.  We may discover a gold reef.  There are new animals in the forest.  We may catch an okapi, and if we could land it in England it would fetch a large sum.  We might snare a live gorilla, and there is not a gorilla in the zoological gardens of Europe.”

“A gorilla!” said Venning, thinking of a picture he had seen of an erect man-ape bending a rifle-barrel into an arch as if it were a cane.

“A gorilla!” said Compton.  “I should like to find the Garden of Rest.”

“You have heard his story, Mr. Venning?” said the hunter, nodding his head at Compton.

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, it was because of that story that I have taken you two into my expedition; otherwise I should have been obliged to decline your services on account of your youth.  But the story interested me, and I will do my best to help Compton in his search.”

“Thank you,” said Compton, quietly.

“The Garden of Rest!” mused the hunter.  “That, I take it, would be an Arabian phrase; for such a term would not occur to a native, who is too often idle to attach much value to a state of rest.  It sounds peaceful; but I have it in my mind that if we ever reach the place, it will be only after much hard work, much suffering, and danger.  You understand that this is no pleasure excursion?”

“We do, sir,” said Compton; “yet we expect to get much pleasure from the expedition.”

“Another word.  I am not an exacting man; but there is one thing I will not tolerate, and that is disobedience.  It is well to understand that now;” and there came a stern expression into those singular eyes.

“That is only right,” said Compton; and Venning agreed.

CHAPTER II

A NOVEL CRAFT

A month was devoted to preparation—­a month that was full of pleasure to the two friends, for they came into close touch with Dave Hume the hunter, and learnt to regard him almost as a brother.  Ordinarily, he was curt in his speech and cold in manner, especially with strangers; but at night, when he had shed his boots and coat, he would talk to them freely of his hunting experiences, and listen with interest to their opinions.  He never laughed at their mistakes, nor damped their enthusiasm, but he got the best out of them by a fine courtesy that seemed part of his nature.