is good now and will never do so any more. Can you
understand any of his lingo?"

"Not a word. It doesn't seem a bit like Hindustani. What's that?"

"The Colonel asked what was the meaning of the attack made upon us
yesterday."

"Ah, then he knows that fellow?" whispered Bracy.

"No doubt. The old man's pretty keen, and if that chap means treachery,
I'm afraid he didn't get up early enough this morning if he has come to
take in old Graves."

"I'm sure that's one of them. I had him at the end of my binocular, and
I know him by that scar on his cheek."

"They all seem to have a good deal of cheek," said Roberts coolly.

"Look here; I'd better warn the Colonel."

"No need, old fellow. He knows what he's about. These niggers are
precious cunning, but it's generally little child's deceit, and that's
as transparent as a bit of glass. Don't be alarmed. Old Graves can see
through any tricks of that kind, and Wrayford hasn't been on this
station a twelvemonth without picking up a few native wrinkles."

"Pst! Listen to what they're saying."

"Can't: it's rude," said Roberts.

"Not at a time like this, when perhaps men's and women's lives are at
stake."

"All right; let's listen, then. What's the boss saying?"

"I don't like it, Wrayford. These are part of the tribe that tried to
destroy us as we came up yesterday, and now they find we have escaped
them they want to make friends."

"Well, we want the tribes to be friendly."

"Yes, but not with sham friendliness, to lull us into security, and
then, after waiting their time, to join their fellows in a general
massacre."

"I am afraid you are misjudging our visitors here," said Colonel
Wrayford quietly.

"I am sure I am not. I swear I saw that dark fellow with the cut on his
cheek leading a charge."

"There; what did I tell you?" whispered Bracy.

"And what did I tell you about the old man seeing as far into a
millstone as is necessary for being on the safe side?"

"Yes; and I am glad his observation was so keen."

"He's all right, old fellow; but hist! what is it? Ah, that's right.
Wrayford is glad to hear that the chief of the Red Dwats is so friendly
to the Queen, and his request for arms and ammunition shall be sent to
the proper quarter. Now, then, what does he say to that?"

One of the interpreters spoke to say that the great chief of the Red
Dwats would camp in the valley above, so as to be close at hand if any
of the sons of Shaita