k.

The farewell he took of his entertainers was a very cordial one. Their
hospitality had been as genuine as it was unceremonious. He had shared
their life as one of themselves, and if the experience was totally
different to any former one, why he had thoroughly enjoyed it, and said
so, in no half-hearted way. Further, he had readily promised to repeat
it on his way homeward.

"That's a thoroughly nice young chap," pronounced Simcox, decisively, as
their late guests turned for a final wave of the hand before
disappearing from view down the kloof. "Not an atom of `side,' takes us
as he finds us, and no nonsense about him. I hope he'll look in again,
on his way back."

And Simcox's women-kind quite enthusiastically agreed with Simcox.

CHAPTER FOUR.

THE MYSTERY OF SLAANG KLOOF.

"But that is Slaang Kloof, Baas."

"I never said it wasn't. But--what if it is Slaang Kloof?"

"We cannot go in, Baas." And the speaker's pleasing, good-humoured face
took on a dogged, not to say obstinate expression. A little more
acquaintance with the country and its natives, and Dick Selmes would
have known that when the countenance of one of these took on that
expression, why, he might as well whisper words of sweet reasonableness
into the long ears of an experienced and jibbing mule.

"Why can't we go in, Kleinbooi?" he said shortly.

"_Ou_! It is a place of _tagati_--of witchcraft," answered the Fingo.

"Witchcraft? Bosh!" exploded Dick. "Come now, Kleinbooi. Lay those
dogs on to the spoor sharp, or my chances of getting that buck will
become nothing at all, and I can't afford to lose such a fine ram as
that because of your humbugging superstitions."

But the Fingo only shook his head.

"I can't do it, Baas," he said. "_Oud Baas_ [the Old Master] would not
allow it. He allows nothing living to go into Slaang Kloof."

"But why? In Heaven's name, why?" rejoined Dick, impatiently.

"Because what goes in there living comes out dead," answered the other,
seriously.

Dick Selmes stamped his foot, and mildly--very mildly--swore. He looked
at his companion, who seemed most abominably in earnest, otherwise he
was inclined to suspect that the Fingo was amusing himself at the
expense of a new-comer. But, plainly, he could not go against the
wishes of his host, and if the latter chose to give way to the absurd
superstitions of mere savages, he supposed his weakness must be
respected, but it was precious annoyin