DoctorSmithandhiswife,Mary,departariverboatandaremetbyPhilTalbot.PhilinformsDr.SmiththatJessup,theonlyotherwhitemaninthevillage,hasdiedwhilethedoctorandhiswifewereoffonatwo-dayholiday.UnknowntoSmith,Jessupandhispartner,RossKing,hadalargecacheofivorytusksinthejungle,andhehadtoldPhilaboutit.Meanwhile,MarySmithhasdecidedtosteam-boatdowntheCongoRivertoCapetownforanextendedholiday.Kuba,King'sgun-bearer,asksSmithtowritealettertoKing,currentlyresidingataNewYorkCityExplorer'sClub,andadvisehimthathispartnerhasdied.Talbotsendsalettertohisstatesidesweetheart,DianeCameron,andherfather,askingthemtocometoAfricaandjoinhimonanivory-treasureexpedition,andreplenishtheirfamily-fortunelostintherecentstock-marketcrash.WhatMr.CameronandDianedon'tknowaboutTalbotisthathisyearsinAfricahaveunhingedhim.