was going to kill for his ambition."

Sindo, then, had not been ungrateful; he had walked, or rather run, all
night, to give warning of the danger threatening those to whom he owed
his life. Having no influence among their captors, he knew that the
only plan for serving the captives was to give notice to those who had
power to assist them. This act of gratitude he had successfully
accomplished.

There is many a slip between the cup and the lip. The adage was in
their case illustrated. But for the mention of Sindo's name, as the
captives were being conducted to the place of execution, awakening in
the Zooloo's mind a suspicion of treachery, the rescuers would have
arrived too late. The delay caused by the inquiry after Sindo, at the
village, was that which had caused the cup to slip.

The released captives now inquired for Sindo, wishing to embrace him.

He was not upon the ground. Completely exhausted with his long run, he
had not been able to return with the deliverers, but had remained at the
camp, where the hopo was being constructed.

No time was lost in staying by a spot fraught with so many unpleasant
memories; and by the dawn of day our adventurers and their African
friends were well on the way towards their encampment.

On reaching it they found Swartboy in a state of strange mental
confusion, through joy at their return, and anger at Congo, for having
allowed those under his care to get into such terrible trouble.

The service that Sindo had rendered his white friends fully
re-established him in the favour of Macora, and he was invited to make
his home again among his own people,--an invitation that was eagerly
accepted.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

THE HOPO.

Groot Willem was, for the time, cured of the desire to seek further
adventures in the chase. He had come to the place for the express
purpose of procuring two young giraffes, and taking them safely to the
Dutch consul. The experience of the last few days had shown him that
his object would not be better accomplished by thus exposing himself to
the chances of dying some horrible death. Guided by this dearly-bought
belief he was contented to amuse himself by joining the Makololo in the
construction of the trap. In this work he was assisted by the other
three, all of whom were now thinking more of home than of giraffes, or
anything else.

The trap was to consist of two high fences converging upon each other,
so as to form a figure somewhat