mrade; Nahoon, who watched him day and night, certainly would not.
This was his opportunity--there remained the question of Nahoon.

Well, if it came to the worst, Nahoon must die: it would be easy--he
had a loaded rifle, and now that his assegai was gone, Nahoon had only
a kerry. He did not wish to kill the man, though it was clear to
him, seeing that his own safety was at stake, that he would be amply
justified in so doing. Why should he not put it to him--and then be
guided by circumstances?

Nahoon was walking across a little open space about ten spaces ahead of
him where Hadden could see him very well, whilst he himself was under
the shadow of a large tree with low horizontal branches running out from
the trunk.

"Nahoon," he said.

The Zulu turned round, and took a step towards him.

"No, do not move, I pray. Stand where you are, or I shall be obliged
to shoot you. Listen now: do not be afraid for I shall not fire without
warning. I am your prisoner, and you are charged to take me back to the
king to be his servant. But I believe that a war is going to break out
between your people and mine; and this being so, you will understand
that I do not wish to go to Cetywayo's kraal, because I should either
come to a violent death there, or my own brothers will believe that I
am a traitor and treat me accordingly. The Zulu border is not much more
than an hour's journey away--let us say an hour and a half's: I mean to
be across it before the moon is up. Now, Nahoon, will you lose me in the
forest and give me this hour and a half's start--or will you stop here
with that ghost people of whom you talk? Do you understand? No, please
do not move."

"I understand you," answered the Zulu, in a perfectly composed voice,
"and I think that was a good name which we gave you this morning,
though, Black Heart, there is some justice in your words and more
wisdom. Your opportunity is good, and one which a man named as you are
should not let fall."

"I am glad to find that you take this view of the matter, Nahoon. And
now will you be so kind as to lose me, and to promise not to look for me
till the moon is up?"

"What do you mean, Black Heart?"

"What I say. Come, I have no time to spare."

"You are a strange man," said the Zulu reflectively. "You heard the
king's order to me: would you have me disobey the order of the king?"

"Certainly, I would. You have no reason to love Cetywayo, and it does
not matter to you whether or n