The Interior of a Factory

           HarrisandNegorohadtoldalieinsayingthatMrs.WeldonandlittleJackweredead.She,herson,andCousinBenedictweretheninKazounde.

           Aftertheassaultontheant-hill,theyhadbeentakenawaybeyondthecampontheCoanzabyHarrisandNegoro,accompaniedbyadozennativesoldiers.

           Apalanquin,the"kitanda"ofthecountry,receivedMrs.WeldonandlittleJack.WhysuchcareonthepartofsuchamanasNegoro?Mrs.Weldonwasafraidtoexplainittoherself.

           ThejourneyfromtheCounzatoKazoundewasmaderapidlyandwithoutfatigue.CousinBenedict,onwhomtroubleseemedtohavenoeffect,walkedwithafirmstep.Ashewasallowedtosearchtotherightandtotheleft,hedidnotthinkofcomplaining.Thelittletroop,then,arrivedatKazoundeeightdaysbeforeIbnHamis’scaravan.Mrs.Weldonwasshutup,withherchildandCousinBenedict,inAlvez’sestablishment.

           LittleJackwasmuchbetter.Onleavingthemarshycountry,wherehehadtakenthefever,hegraduallybecamebetter,andnowhewasdoingwell.Nodoubtneitherhenorhismothercouldhavebornethehardshipsofthecaravan;butowingtothemannerinwhichtheyhadmadethisjourney,duringwhichtheyhadbeengivenacertainamountofcare,theywereinasatisfactorycondition,physicallyatleast.

           Astohercompanions,Mrs.Weldonhadheardnothingofthem.AfterhavingseenHerculesfleeintotheforest,shedidnotknowwhathadbecomeofhim.