e
could not for the life of her have defined its meaning, still--there it
was.

"I'll be back directly," he went on. Then he and Undhlawafa disappeared
within the black shades of the forest.

Verna, left there, set herself out to await her father's return with
that tranquil philosophy which was the result of her wild life and no
particular upbringing. She watched the butchery proceedings in the
clear, full moonlight, but with no interest. They were rather
disgusting, but she had seen enough of that sort of detail for it to
have little or no effect on her. She gazed forth upon the swampy,
miasmatic open space and the sombre forest line bounding it, and gave a
direction or two to the natives as to the head and horns of the trophy.
Then she began to wonder when her father was coming back.

The latter and Undhlawafa had reached a spot in the forest where the
trees were thin at the top, letting through a broad network of
moonlight. Bending down the induna drew forth from some place of
concealment a bag made of raw hide. It was heavy, and its contents
clinked.

"Count these, U' Ben," he said, untying the _reimpje_ that fastened it.

The trader's eyes kindled and his pulses quickened somewhat as he picked
up a handful out of the mass of golden sovereigns, letting it fall back
through his fingers in a stream which flashed in the moonlight. This he
did again and again--and the rich metallic clink of the falling coins
was music to his ears. All this could be his for the taking--his, now
and here, and in return an easy and not particularly risky service.
Undhlawafa, the while, was reading his face.

"Is it not enough?" he said, in a tone that implied that more might
conceivably be forthcoming in the event of a negative reply. "Yet--
count the pieces."

But Ben Halse did not do this. He continued to trickle the coins
through his fingers, without replying. Why should he let go this
opportunity of making a rich haul? If he did not take it somebody else
would, and the result would be the same. Besides, no Zulu, or any other
native for that matter, could hit a house with firearms unless he were
locked up inside it, and then his bullet would probably miss it and go
through the window. He was far more dangerous with his own native
assegai--in fact, the possession of firearms rendered him less efficient
with even that. These were the salves he applied to his conscience as
he looked upon the mass of sovereigns shini