this man's word was as certain as that the sun
would rise; and this held good equally among white and black. But when
it came to a question of making money--though never known to go back
upon his word--Ben Halse was not scrupulous as to how he made it. In
dealing with natives of authority or position, or both, and, indeed,
with many others, he had found them absolutely reliable. He knew now
that were he to demand double the price of the service asked of him he
would almost certainly receive it; yet he was in no hurry to close with
the offer. The induna, the while, sat placidly taking snuff. Then
Verna's clear voice was heard.

"Father, come along in. The dinner will be spoiled."

"We will go after that big koodoo bull to-night, Undhlawafa," he said,
rising to go inside.

"_Nkose_!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Whatever have you and old Undhlawafa been yarning about all this time,
dear?" asked Verna, as they sat at table.

"He says there's a thundering big koodoo bull down in the Lumisana, one
with record horns. We are going after him to-night."

Verna half started from her chair and her eyes sparkled.

"What fun! Why, so we will."

"Hallo! _We_! Now my `we' didn't include a girl."

"No? It included this girl, though," was the tranquil reply.

"Did it? I've only got one girl, and I'm not going to have her breaking
her neck over stones, or scratching her eyes out in the dark, in that
infernal tangle, or getting bitten by some beastly black mamba, or
something of that sort."

Verna's eyes danced.

"Since when have you discovered that I was made of sugar, dear?" she
said sweetly. "I've never been into the bush with you before, have I?
Never helped you to defy the game laws of--I was going to say _our_
country, but it's hard to tell exactly whose country it is. Never--have
I?"

"Oh well, I'm getting old now, and the part we are going into isn't
adapted to a skirt. Besides--"

"Besides--what?"

"Nothing."

Perhaps that other consideration had occurred to him. Decidedly she
would be in the way--under certain circumstances.

"Oh well, it doesn't matter," rejoined Verna tranquilly. "I'm going,
anyhow."

CHAPTER FIVE.

THE TEMPTATION.

Tall tree-trunks, straight standing or curved; a tangle of creepers and
undergrowth; long rank grass, and a general effluvium of decay and
stuffiness unpleasantly suggestive of fever--such were the gene