I really tried to finish this as I did enjoy the 39 steps (years ago I admit). I did not care at all what happened to any of these nasty racist entirely male characters.
One of the men was actually an elephant poacher and big game hunter, and this is portrayed as a good thing! I know this book is almost 100 years old - it made me realise how much more civilised we are today. Which is actually all I got from the intensely irritating, know-it-all characters.