Sanders of the River. Edgar Wallace

      He stood still, and they passed him, so close that he saw on the boss of one shield the rough-moulded letters:—

"AUGUSTUS CAE."

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      "Fever" said Sanders emphatically, and followed the box to the ship.

      When the steamer reached Lukati, Sanders was still in a condition of doubt, for his temperature was normal, and neither fever nor sun could be held accountable for the vision. Added to which, his men had seen the same thing.

      He found the reinforcements his pigeon had brought, but they were unnecessary now.

      "It beats me," he confessed to Carter, telling the story; "but we'll get out the stone; it might furnish an explanation. Centurions—bah!"

      The stone, exposed in the light of day, was of greyish granite, such as Sanders did not remember having seen before.

      "Here are the 'devil marks,'" he said, as he turned it over. "Possibly—whew!"

      No wonder he whistled, for closely set were a number of printed characters; and Carter, blowing the dust, saw—

"MARIUS ET AUGUSTUS

       CENT … … … NERO

       IMPERAT. … . IN DEUS

      . … . DULCE."

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      That night, with great labour, Sanders, furbishing his rusty Latin, and filling in gaps, made a translation: