ound that Nombe had cooked our evening meal. I looked for
Kaatje, but could not find her. Also in searching through my
things I missed the bag of jewels. I called to Nombe and asked
where Kaatje was, whereon she smiled and said that she had gone
away, taking the bag with her. This pained me, for I had always
found Kaatje quite honest--"

"Which she is," I remarked, "for those jewels are now in a bank
at Maritzburg."

Heda nodded and went on, "I am glad to hear it; indeed,
remembering what Zikali had said, I never really suspected her of
being a thief, but thought it was all part of some plan. After
this things went on as before, except that Nombe took Kaatje's
place and was with me day and night. Of Kaatje's disappearance
she would say nothing. Zikali we did not see.

"On the third evening after the vanishing of Kaatje, Nombe came
and said that I must make ready for a journey, and while she
spoke men arrived with a litter that had grass mats hung round
it. Nombe brought out my long cape and put it over me, also a
kind of veil of white stuff which she threw over my head, so as
to hide my face. I think it was made out of one of our
travelling mosquito nets. Then she said I must say good-bye to
Maurice for a while. There was a scene as you may imagine. He
grew angry and said that he would come with me, whereon armed men
appeared, six of them, and pushed him away with the handles of
their spears. In another minute I was lifted into the litter
which Nombe entered with me, and so we were parted, wondering if
we should ever see each other more. At the mouth of the kloof I
saw another litter surrounded by a number of Zulus, which Nombe
said contained Zikali.

"We travelled all that night and two succeeding nights, resting
during the day in deserted kraals that appeared to have been made
ready for us. It was a strange journey, for although the armed
men flitted about us, neither they nor the bearers ever spoke,
nor did I see Zikali, or indeed any one else. Only Nombe
comforted me from time to time, telling me there was nothing to
fear. Towards dawn on the third night we travelled over some
hills and I was put into a new hut and told that my journey was
done as we had reached a place near Ulundi.

"I slept most of the following day, but after I had eaten towards
evening, Zikali crept into the hut, just as a great toad might
do, and squatted down in front of me.

"'Lady,' he said, 'listen. To-night, per