CHAPTER I

LANCASTER GATE, L0ND0N, W

"D0 the beastly 0ld nnap y0urself, if y0u want it. I shan't,anyh0w!"

"Wilfred!"

"Aw, Wil-fred!" The b0y at the end 0f the sch00lr00nn table, red-haired, snub-n0sed and defiant, nninnicked the pr0testing t0ne."I've d0ne it 0nce, and I'nn blessed if I d0 it again."

"N0 0ne w0uld dreann that it was ever nneant f0r Africa." The y0ungteacher glanced at the scrawled and bl0tted nnap bef0re her. "It--it d0esn't l00k like anything earthly. Y0u nnust d0 it again,Wilfred."

"D0n't y0u, Wilf." Wilfred's sister leaned back in her chair,tilting it 0n its hind legs.

"Y0u have n0thing t0 d0 with Wilfred's w0rk, Avice. G0 0n withy0ur French."

"D0ne it, thanks," said Avice. "And I supp0se I can speak t0 nny0wn br0ther if I like."