than
ten paces away. Half a minute later they heard a hideous grunting noise
and a splashing of water, and saw the Zulu fly into the air. All the
while that they were eating, the wounded buffalo had been lying in
wait for them under a thick bush on the banks of the streamlet,
knowing--cunning brute that he was--that sooner or later his turn would
come. With a shout of consternation they rushed forward to see the bull
vanish over the rise before Hadden could get a chance of firing at him,
and to find their companion dying, for the great horn had pierced his
lung.

"It is not a buffalo, it is a devil," the poor fellow gasped, and
expired.

"Devil or not, I mean to kill it," exclaimed Hadden. So leaving the
others to carry the body of their comrade to camp, he started on
accompanied by Nahoon only. Now the ground was more open and the chase
easier, for they sighted their quarry frequently, though they could not
come near enough to fire. Presently they travelled down a steep cliff.

"Do you know where we are?" asked Nahoon, pointing to a belt of forest
opposite. "That is _Emagudu_, the Home of the Dead--and look, the bull
heads thither."

Hadden glanced round him. It was true; yonder to the left were the Fall,
the Pool of Doom, and the hut of the Bee.

"Very well," he answered; "then we must head for it too."

Nahoon halted. "Surely you would not enter there," he exclaimed.

"Surely I will," replied Hadden, "but there is no need for you to do so
if you are afraid."

"I am afraid--of ghosts," said the Zulu, "but I will come."

So they crossed the strip of turf, and entered the haunted wood. It
was a gloomy place indeed; the great wide-topped trees grew thick there
shutting out the sight of the sky; moreover, the air in it which no
breeze stirred, was heavy with the exhalations of rotting foliage. There
seemed to be no life here and no sound--only now and again a loathsome
spotted snake would uncoil itself and glide away, and now and again a
heavy rotten bough fell with a crash.

Hadden was too intent upon the buffalo, however, to be much impressed
by his surroundings. He only remarked that the light would be bad for
shooting, and went on.

They must have penetrated a mile or more into the forest when the sudden
increase of blood upon the spoor told them that the bull's wound was
proving fatal to him.

"Run now," said Hadden cheerfully.

"Nay, _hamba gachle_--go softly--" answered Nahoon, "the devil is dying,