Where a Manticore may Lead

           Towhatplankofsafetywillnotanunfortunatebeingcling?Willnottheeyesofthecondemnedseektoseizeanyrayofhope,nomatterhowvague?

           SoithadbeenwithMrs.Weldon.Onecanunderstandwhatshemusthavefeltwhenshelearned,fromAlvezhimself,thatDr.LivingstonehadjustdiedinalittleBangoneolovillage.

           Itseemedtoherthatshewasmoreisolatedthanever;thatasortofbondthatattachedhertothetraveler,andwithhimtothecivilizedworld,hadjustbeenbroken.

           Theplankofsafetysankunderherhand,therayofhopewentoutbeforehereyes.TomandhiscompanionshadleftKazoundeforthelakeregion.NottheleastnewsofHercules.Mrs.Weldonwasnotsureofanyone.ShemustthenfallbackonNegoro’sproposition,whiletryingtoamenditandsecureadefiniteresultfromit.

           June14th,thedayfixedbyhim,NegoropresentedhimselfatMrs.

           Weldon’shut.

           ThePortuguesewas,asalways,sohesaid,perfectlypractical.However,heabatednothingfromtheamountoftheransom,whichhisprisonerdidnotevendiscuss.ButMrs.Weldonalsoshowedherselfverypracticalinsayingtohim:

           "Ifyouwishtomakeanagreement,donotrenderitimpossiblebyunacceptableconditions.Theexchangeofourlibertyforthesumyouexactmaytakeplace,withoutmyhusbandcomingintoacountrywhereyouseewhatcanbedonewithawhiteman!Now,Idonotwishhimtocomehereatanyprice!"

           AftersomehesitationNegoroyielded,andMrs.WeldonfinishedwiththeconcessionthatJamesWeldonshouldnotventureasfarasKazounde.