the part of cook and parlourmaid combined. I told
her something of what had happened, whereon Heda, who did not
appreciate its importance in the least, remarked that she, Nombe,
might as well have put on the pot before she went and done sundry
other things which I forget. Ultimately we got something to eat
and turned in, Heda grumbling a little because she must sleep
alone, for she had grown used to the company of the ever-watchful
Nombe, who made her bed across the door-hole of the hut.

Anscombe was soon lost in dreams, if he did dream, but I could
not sleep well that night. I was fearful of I knew not what, and
so, I think, was Lost, for he fidgeted and kept poking me with
his nose. At last, I think it must have been about two hours
after midnight, he began to growl. I could hear nothing,
although my ears are sharp, but as he went on growling I crept to
the door-hole and drew aside the board. Lost slipped out and
vanished, while I waited, listening. Presently I thought I heard
a soft foot-fall and a whisper, also that I saw the shape of a
woman which reminded me of Nombe, shown faintly by the starlight.
It vanished in a moment and Lost returned wagging his tail, as he
might well have done if it were Nombe who was attached to the
dog. As nothing further happened I went back to bed, reflecting
that I was probably mistaken, since Nombe had been sent away for
some days by Zikali and would scarcely dare to return at once,
even if she could do so.

Shortly before daylight Lost began to growl again in a subdued
and thunderous fashion. This time I got up and dressed myself
more or less. Then I went out. The dawn was just breaking and
by its light I saw a strange scene. About fifty yards away in
the narrow nek that ran over some boulders to the site of our
huts, stood what seemed to be the goddess Nomkubulwana as I had
seen her on the point of rock in the Vale of Bones. She wore the
same radiant dress and in the dim glow had all the appearance of
a white woman. I stood amazed, thinking that I dreamt, when from
round the bend emerged a number of Zulus, creeping forward
stealthily with raised spears.

They caught sight of the supernatural figure which barred their
road, halted and whispered to each other. Then they turned to
fly, but before they went one of them, as it seemed to me through
sheer terror, hurled his assegai at the figure which remained
still and unmoved.

In thirty seconds they were gone; i