proof. And I think I see Miss Halse, for instance,
consenting to do anything of the kind."

"I'd be sorry for the chump, black or white, she had got the sights of a
rifle on," he answered, with a thrill of pride. "She's just a dead
shot."

"So I've heard," said Bray, with a twinkle in his eyes. "You must have
had a good time together all this while. Good sport--and all that?"

"No, you don't draw me, Bray. I'm a collector, and I never heard that
birds and snakes were `royal' game."

"Rather hard to keep one's piece from going off--by accident, of
course--when a waterbuck or something _strays_ across the road, eh?"

But this chaff was interrupted by a trooper, who had ridden back from
the advance guard, and the intelligence he brought caused his superior
to swear. The river was down, and the passage of the Gilwana drift
would be impossible for at least a couple of hours.

"That's that infernal thunder burst up in the hills early this morning,"
declared Bray. Then he gave orders to off-saddle where they were, for,
of course, he had originally intended to do so on the further side.
However, it was open here, at any rate, and they might still be able to
push through the thickest and most dangerous part before dark.

"This is a real old picnic now, Miss Halse," pronounced Sub-Inspector
Dering, as he helped to unpack from the spider the requisite things
which had been brought along for lunch. "Lord, what a nuisance those
kids are!" he added in an undertone. "Always howling."

For Minton's small family was uttering shrilling expostulation at the
delayed meal. The while vedettes were posted, and the police, split up
into groups, were discussing their rations. The officers and the
civilian element were making a picnic together, and as such it seemed,
but the stacked rifles and full bandoliers told a different tale.

"What d'you think, Halse?" said Inspector Bray, as the two talked apart
while the others were laughing and joking and making merry as they laid
out the things. "Shall we slip through, or shall we get a chance at
Sapazani?"

"Can't say. You see, I've been cut off from communication ever since I
left home. But I should say the chances are about even. One thing you
may rely upon, we have been watched every inch of the way."

"Sure?"

"Dead cert. However, let's fall-to, at any rate. We'll be ready for
them if they do come, and we can't do more."

The picnic proceeded merrily enough. Sub-I