umfane_ [boy] to revile the son of a
chief." And turning, the whole party walked rapidly away, driving the
ox before them.

When they had gone a little distance, they began staging an improvised
strophe the burden of whose veiled insolence took in the white race in
general, and the last specimen of it the singers had seen in particular,
and thus bawling, they eventually receded from sight.

Gerard was terribly put about by this occurrence, and was disposed to
blame himself bitterly. Surely he had been over cautions, and had
brought about this hostile termination by his own awkwardness and
stupidity. But to his inexpressible relief John Dawes, to whom on his
return he narrated the whole affair, was not at all of this opinion.

"It couldn't have been helped," the latter declared. "If I had been
here the result would likely have been the same, for they're cheeky
young dogs those sons of Sirayo, and the old man himself is a
thorough-paced old sweep. If you made any mistake at all, it was a
mistake on the right side--that of firmness--and I'm not sure you made
any."

Which dictum lifted a weight from Gerard's mind.

"I'm only afraid they'll play us some trick," he said. "Hadn't we
better get away from here as soon as possible?"

"N-no. They might construe that into an act of running away. We'll
just trek on a few miles further, and see what turns up, but I don't
mind telling you I hardly like the look of things. The people are very
unsettled, thanks to this disputed boundary question, and the badgering
of the Natal Government. They are sulky and sullen, and flatly refuse
to trade. I think we'll get away north pretty soon."

That evening an incident occurred which, taken in conjunction with the
events of the day, looked ominous. The "boy" who was sent to bring in
the two horses, which were turned loose to graze, returned with only
one; the other he could not find. He had hunted for it high and low,
but without result.

By this time the two horses had become so accustomed to the waggons that
they would never stray far, and often return of their own accord;
consequently, it was not thought worthwhile even to knee-halter them.
Now, however, the one which the "boy" had brought back had been found
much further afield than was usual, and of the other there was no trace.
And the missing steed was Gerard's mouse-coloured Basuto pony.

Saddling up the horse that remained and giving orders where the waggons
were