eller said about something else--I
forget what. It may be all very well for young gentlemen with plenty of
money, wandering about the world on the look-out for excitement; but for
us ordinary chaps who've got to make a living--and not an easy one at
that--it spells anything but fun I can tell you. What price my place
being sacked and burnt to the ground some fine night? I've got a wife
and kiddies too--what if we didn't get long enough warning to clear them
off to Komgha quick enough? Well, that's what war spells to us."

"By George! I never thought of it in that light," cried Dick Selmes, to
whom the other's quiet but good-natured reproof appealed thoroughly.
"But--surely you'd get warning in time, wouldn't you?"

"Warning. Look at those chaps out there"--designating the groups of
Kafirs, now momentarily increasing, in front of the canteen, some of
them visible from the window. "Some fine day they come along just as
you see them now, only with businesslike assegais hidden under their
blankets. Then, a sudden signal and a rush, and--where do we come in?
Kafirs don't give warning, they take you on the hop; ain't I right,
Greenoak?"

Greenoak nodded. Dick Selmes was conscious of feeling rather small.
Just then, as though to emphasise the hotel-keeper's remarks, a
considerable hubbub arose outside, voices were raised--many of them, and
all talking at once, and through them running a note of anger; and a lot
of angry and excited Kafirs all talking at once _are_ capable of raising
a very considerable hubbub indeed.

"Why, they're going to have a row, I do believe," cried Dick, springing
to the door, and looking out. But MacFennel never turned a hair.

"Oh, it's only some feller got too drunk in the canteen," he said.
"Been chucked out by my assistant. It often happens, but they blow off
steam in no time."

In this case, however, no such safety-valve seemed to be in working
order. A rush of excited Kafirs surged round the further end of the
building. Blankets were thrown off, and with a tough kerrie in each
hand, they fell to. Shouts and vociferations, the clash and splintering
of hard-wood, and the more sickening crunch, as the latter fell in upon
skull or shoulder--the moving mass swayed and leaped. At the same time,
as though magically evolved, lines of Kafirs, some mounted on rough
ponies, some afoot, came pouring along the hillside, shrilling war
whistles or uttering loud whoops, and, arriving on the