He led me round the fence that encircled Zikali's dwelling-place,
to two huts that stood nearly behind it, almost against the face
of the rock which, overhanging in a curve, formed a kind of
natural roof above them. I thought they must have been built
since I visited the place, as I, who have a good memory for such
things, did not remember them. Indeed, on subsequent examination
I found that they were quite new, for the poles that formed their
uprights were still green and the grass of the thatch was
scarcely dry. It looked to me as if they had been specially
constructed for our accommodation.

In one of these huts, that to the right which was allotted to
Anscombe and myself, I found the others waiting for me, also the
food. It was good of its sort and well cooked, and we ate it by
the light of some candles that we had with us, Kaatje serving us.
Yet, although a little while before I had been desperately
hungry, now my appetite seemed to have left me and I made but a
poor meal. Heda and Anscombe also seemed oppressed and ate
sparingly. We did not talk much until Kaatje had taken away the
tin plates and gone to eat her own supper by a fire that burned
outside the hut. Then Heda broke out, saying that she was
terrified of this place and especially of its master, the old
dwarf, and felt sure that something terrible was going to happen
to her. Anscombe did his best to calm her, and I also told her
she had nothing to fear.

"If there is nothing to fear, Mr. Quatermain," she answered,
turning on me, "why do you look so frightened yourself? By your
face you might have seen a ghost."

This sudden and singularly accurate thrust, for after all I had
seen something that looked very like a ghost, startled me, and
before I could invent any soothing and appropriate fib, Nombe
appeared, saying that she had come to lead Heda to her
sleeping-place. After this further conversation was impossible
since, although Nombe knew but few words of English, she was a
great thought-reader and I feared to speak of anything secret in
her presence. So we all went out of the hut, Nombe and I drawing
back a little to the fire while the lovers said good-night to
each other.

"Nombe," I said, "the Inkosikazi Heddana is afraid. The rocks of
this kloof lie heavy on her heart; the face of the Opener of
Roads is fearful to her and his laughter grates upon her ears.
Do you understand?"

"I understand, Macumazahn, and it is as I expecte