TIBERIUS SMITH
impression. But realizing that he was one of those careful, conservative fellows who, if you saved the dearly beloved life of his grandfather, would color up and say, 'Aw, thanks, old chap,' we read between the lines and knew he was impatient for our arrival.
"The only thing to mar the placidity of the journey was when we were leaving Mandalay. It was then that the native agent for the freight depot overtook us at the gang-plank with a small box and asked if we would deliver it to the English sahib, and would the sahib be very careful of it?
"‘What is it? Gold?' asked Tib, quizzingly.
The agent salaamed very low, and, backing away, replied that it was not gold, and that the contents of the box were indicated on the cover. As the little boat crept away from the landing, we were interested to read: 'Handle with Care, Dynamite. From Beeks & Dungrove's depots, Rangoon.'
"‘Drop it overboard,' was my earnest advice, for I felt very shivery.
"Tib started to do so, but paused and remonstrated: 'No, it's inconvenient, but doubtless Danby wants this or he wouldn't have sent for it. It might be weeks getting to him by the runners, and of course the company wouldn't accept it as freight. We'll say nothing about it, and I'll keep the length of the boat between us, so if it should go off you'll
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