s brain, and we may not harm him, else evil would overtake
us all. Bind him hand and foot, and bear him tenderly to where he can
be cared for. Surely I thought that these evil-doers were giving us too
little trouble, and thus it has proved."

So they set themselves to make fast Nahoon's hands and wrists, using
as much gentleness as they might, for among the Zulus a lunatic is
accounted holy. It was no easy task, and it took time.

Hadden glanced around him, and saw his opportunity. On the ground close
beside him lay his rifle, where one of the soldiers had placed it,
and about a dozen yards away Maputa's pony was grazing. With a swift
movement, he seized the Martini and five seconds later he was on the
back of the pony, heading for the Crocodile Drift at a gallop. So
quickly indeed did he execute this masterly retreat, that occupied as
they all were in binding Nahoon, for half a minute or more none of the
soldiers noticed what had happened. Then Maputa chanced to see, and
waddled after him to the top of the rise, screaming:--

"The white thief, he has stolen my horse, and the gun too, the gun that
he promised to give me."

Hadden, who by this time was a hundred yards away, heard him clearly,
and a rage filled his heart. This man had made an open murderer of him;
more, he had been the means of robbing him of the girl for whose sake he
had dipped his hands in these iniquities. He glanced over his shoulder;
Maputa was still running, and alone. Yes, there was time; at any rate he
would risk it.

Pulling up the pony with a jerk, he leapt from its back, slipping
his arm through the rein with an almost simultaneous movement. As it
chanced, and as he had hoped would be the case, the animal was a trained
shooting horse, and stood still. Hadden planted his feet firmly on the
ground and drawing a deep breath, he cocked the rifle and covered the
advancing chief. Now Maputa saw his purpose and with a yell of terror
turned to fly. Hadden waited a second to get the sight fair on his broad
back, then just as the soldiers appeared above the rise he pressed the
trigger. He was a noted shot, and in this instance his skill did not
fail him; for, before he heard the bullet tell, Maputa flung his arms
wide and plunged to the ground dead.

Three seconds more, and with a savage curse, Hadden had remounted the
pony and was riding for his life towards the river, which a while later
he crossed in safety.

CHAPTER VI

THE GHOST OF TH