e pair. The apparition,
coming as it did, had been rather startling. Zulus are by nature
well-mannered people, and the brutal rudeness of the man they had just
met could betoken nothing less than the most undisguised hostility, but,
worse than all, his last words were an abundant confirmation of the ugly
rumours which had been taking shape of late with regard to this
mysterious and redoubtable clan.

"Well, if this fellow is a specimen of them all, the Igazipuza must be a
lot of picked men, both in the matter of physique and character," said
Gerard. "I never saw a finer built chap, nor a more utterly
irredeemable-looking villain. And he choused me out of my shot."

"We may as well keep the affair dark as regards the other boys, but
we'll take Sintoba into counsel," said Dawes. "The Swazis would hook it
at a moment's notice if they got wind of it. This is a good spot to
outspan, and--here come the waggons."

The rumble of wheels, and the sound of voices and whip-cracking drew
near, and already the cattle and sheep came into view, scattering over
the meadow-like valley bottom, and soon the waggons. Then, having
reached the spot, a broad level, which Dawes had selected, the waggons
were outspanned, and the oxen turned out to graze, and all hands who
could be spared from the duties of herding were despatched to the
adjacent hillside to cut thorn bushes. With these a fairly substantial
kraal or enclosure was built, the two waggons forming one side of it,
and into this the cattle and sheep were driven for the night. There was
a lion or two still frequenting that broken and desolate hill-country,
and any number of hyaenas or wolves, as they are called in South
Africa--and against such the thorn fence, frail as it was, constituted a
fairly efficient protection; for wild animals are desperately suspicious
of anything in the nature of a fence, and will hesitate to leap within
it, fearing a trap.

Hardly were these precautions completed than the night fell, and then
the cheery glow of the camp-fires shone forth redly upon the darkness,
and the savoury contents of cooking-pots gave out a welcome aroma. But
somehow a damp seemed to have fallen upon the spirits of all. The
ordinarily light-hearted natives conversed sparingly and in subdued
whispers, and even Dawes and Gerard could not altogether feel unaffected
by the general depression. It was as though some hidden danger were
hanging over them, the more terrible bec