you any right to take possession
of me in this cool and calm manner? What right have you to tell me whom
I am not to be friendly with--yes, and even more, if I choose that it
shall be so? I think you are taking a great deal too much upon
yourself, and I tell you so. But there, do not let us quarrel," she
added, with sudden softening. "And I think it is time we returned to
the house."

"As you will, Aletta. But I could not help saying that I did, for I
mean it--every word of it. Of course we will not quarrel. How could I
quarrel with you?"

The tone was sad and grave, but there was a dignity about it that
appealed to Aletta. She did not fail to notice, either, that the other
had not come off badly under somewhat difficult and delicate
circumstances.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The while those upon slaughter intent were pursuing their way. Colvin
Kershaw was a very keen sportsman, and reckoned that life was never so
thoroughly well worth living as at moments like this--when mounted on a
good shooting-horse, an excellent gun in his hand, the whole day before
him, and, spreading around, as fine a bit of veldt for providing a mixed
bag as one could wish to range over--just rolling enough to be
picturesque--the Karroo bush and the mimosa, which grew in solitary
ragged clumps or lined along the river banks, affording plenty of cover
for birds or the smaller kind of buck. The sun flamed down from a blue
and cloudless vault, but without much power, for it was about midwinter,
and the atmosphere of the high veldt was clear and exhilarating to the
last degree.

Two Kafir boys had been sent round to the further side of the "camp,"
with instructions to lure thither and keep occupied such vicious male
ostriches as would otherwise have interfered with, and, so far as their
jurisdiction extended, entirely prevented sport; and the three horsemen
were riding abreast, fifty yards or so apart, at a slow foot's pace.
Behind them walked Gert, armed with a formidable thorn _tack_ in case
any of the aggressive bipeds should assail them in preference to being
fooled by the diversion aforesaid. But just before they took up their
positions, Cornelis being out of earshot, Stephanus remarked:

"I wonder what is the matter with Adrian, Colvin? I have never known
him not want to hunt before. He was looking very strange, too."

"He was," replied the other, who had his own ideas upon t