Part Two, Chapters One through Three Summary

Part Two opens at Walter Smith's farm, Smithville. Wheech-Browning has arrived. Wheech-Browning has come by the farm several times in an attempt to get Walter to pay for the coffee seedlings he imported, but since the seedlings failed Walter is more determined not to pay. Walter assumes he has come for the same purpose, but Wheech-Browning says he has come to tell Walter that the British have declared war on Germany, and Walter must evacuate his farm. Walter refuses and an angry exchange occurs.

Days pass and Walter sees no evidence of war. In time he forgets about Wheech-Browning's warning and even thinks about what crops he will plant next year. At breakfast one morning one of Walter's employees comes to inform him that askaris, native soldiers, have arrived. The askaris are commanded...