fortunately for j. t. maston, the federal government unexpectedly received the following telegram:—

“to john s. wright, washington, u.s.a.

“zanzibar, 13th september, 5 a.m., local time. great foundries have been established among the wamasai to the south of kilimanjaro. for eight months impey barbicane and nicholl have been there, with hundreds of black workmen under the authority of the sultan bali-bali. information for government purposes.—richard w. trust, u.s. consul.”

and that is how the great secret was discovered. and that is why the secretary of the gun club was not hanged.

but who can say that he did not live to regret that he 107was not removed from mankind in all the plenitude of his glory?

anyhow the fact of the discovery is so important in our history that we shall only be treating it with due respect in giving it this chapter to itself.