have my own
opinion, and probably these young people never reasoned the
matter out. They just acted on an intuition as ancient as that
which had attracted them to each other, namely a desire to
consult the ruling fates by omens or symbols. Or perhaps
Anscombe thought that as his experience with the penny had proved
so successful, he would give Providence another "chance." If so
it took it and no mistake. Confound it! I don't know what he
thought; I only dwell on the matter because of the great results
which followed this consultation of the Sybilline books of
heaven.

As it happened my speculations, if I really indulged in any at
that time, were suddenly extinguished by the bursting of the
storm. It was of the usual character, short but very violent.
Of a sudden the sky became alive with lightnings and the
atmosphere with the roar of winds. One flash struck a tree quite
near the kraal, and I saw that tree seem to melt in its fiery
embrace, while about where it had been, rose a column of dust
from the ground beneath. The horses were so frightened that
luckily they stood quite quiet, as I have often known animals to
do in such circumstances. Then came the rain, a torrential rain
as I, who was out in it holding the horses, became painfully
aware. It thinned after a while, however, as the storm rolled
away.

Suddenly in a silence between the tremendous echoes of the
passing thunder I thought that I heard voices somewhere on the
brow of the slope, and as the horses were now quite calm, I crept
through the trees to that part of the enclosure which I judged to
be nearest to them.

Voices they were sure enough, and of the Basutos who were
pursuing us. What was more, they were coming down the slope.
The top of the old wall reached almost to my chin. Taking off my
hat I thrust my head forward between two loose stones, that I
might hear the better.

The men were talking together in Sisutu. One, whom I took to be
their captain, said to the others--

"That white-headed old jackal, Macumazahn, has given us the slip
again. He doubled on his tracks and drove the horses down the
hillside to the lower path in the valley. I could feel where the
wheels went over the edge."

"It is so, Father," answered another voice, "but we shall catch
him and the others at the bottom if we get there before the moon
rises, since they cannot have moved far in this rain and
darkness. Let me go first and guide you who know every t