he thought you were safe for a while, as nearly half the party which had
been attacking you had followed him, and that you had already killed so
many that he thought they would not venture to attack before nightfall.
Now, you had better come up to the waggons at once; you can tell me all
about it afterwards."

The deer which had formed such useful shelter were now lifted, and in a
quarter of an hour the party reached the waggons without molestation. A
vigilant watch was kept all night, but no alarm was given.

In the morning Mr Harvey rode down with the lads and the hunters into
the valley. Except that here and there were deep blood-stains, no signs
of the conflict remained, the natives having carried off their dead in
the course of the night. The hunters, after examining the ground,
declared that fifteen of the enemy had fallen, including those shot on
the slopes. The journey was now resumed.

At the next halt the natives came in to trade as usual, and when
questioned professed entire ignorance of the attack on the hunters.

Three days later, without further adventure, they arrived at the kraal
of the principal chief. It was a large village, and a great number of
cattle were grazing in the neighbourhood. The natives had a sullen
appearance, but exhibited no active hostility. Mr Harvey formed his
waggons in a laager a few hundred yards outside the village, and then,
accompanied by the boys, proceeded to the chief's abode. They were at
once conducted to his presence. He was seated in a hut of bee-hive
form, rather larger than those which surrounded it. When the white men
crawled in through the door, which like all in native structures was not
more than three feet high, they were at first unable to see, so dark was
the interior. The chief uttered the usual words of welcome.

"I have a complaint to make, chief," Mr Harvey said, "against some of
your people. They attacked my two friends and some of my followers when
out hunting. Fortunately they were repulsed, with the loss of some
fifteen of their number, but that does not make the attack upon them any
the less inexcusable."

"That is bad," the chief said; "how does my friend, the white trader,
know that they were my men?"

"They were inside your territory anyhow," Mr Harvey said. "It was upon
the third day after I had left the Matabele."

"It must have been a party of Matabele," the chief said; "they often
come into my territory to steal cattle; the