rovide against any chance of his being heard and released by a stray
traveller, a stick was stuck crosswise in his mouth, the bight of a
string made fast over each end of it, and then securely knotted at the
back of his head.

After taking a survey of his fastenings, to see that there was no danger
of their coming undone, his cruel captors made him a mocking salute;
and, bidding him "good bye," strode off towards their camp.

CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE.

A FIGHT BY FIRELIGHT.

Anxiously did Groot Willem wait for the next morning and the promised
visit from Congo.

But the morning came and passed without any Congo, Willem became
impatient, and could not content himself any longer in the camp.

"This will not do," he exclaimed, as he saw that the sun was again going
down in the sky. "We must not remain here. Perhaps Congo _cannot_
come. Of course he cannot, or he would have been here before now. We
must look for him, but it will not do for all of us to go together.
Hendrik, will you come with me?"

Hendrik readily responded to the invitation. The two mounted their
horses and rode off towards the residence of Van Ormon.

From the behaviour of Congo when Willem had last seen him, the latter
was quite certain that his visits at the kraal were not desired. The
Kaffir probably supposed that they might interfere with his plans, by
bringing suspicion upon himself.

This, however, did not prevent Willem from going to see him once more.

Congo had broken his promise; and that was a proof that something must
be wrong.

On their new visit to Mynheer Van Ormon, this gentleman did not take the
slightest trouble to show them civility.

"Dat plack villen you call Congo," said he, "goed away last night. We
thought he vash mit you. When you fints him again take him to der
tuyfel, if you likes, and keep him dare."

"Do you think he has gone away from this place?" asked Willem of
Hendrik, as they rode out from Van Ormon's enclosures.

"Yes," answered Hendrik; "I see no reason to doubt it."

"But why did he not come to me, as he promised?"

"There's some good reason for his not having done so."

"I wish I knew in what direction he has gone."

"That difficulty may soon be removed," said Hendrik. "I fancy I can
tell it to a point of the compass. It will be found a little to east of
north."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because it was in that quarter we encountered the two men on the day
after the giraffes were miss