about the _veldt_ in
Bomvanaland at this moment," he rejoined. "Now you see how your love
has twice stood between me and death; has preserved my life for itself.
My sweet guardian angel, does not that look as if some Fate had always
intended us for each other from the very first!"

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

AT SWAANEPOEL'S HOEK.

Several months had gone by.

The war was nearly over now. Struck on all sides--decimated by the
terrible breech-loading weapons of the whites--harried even in their
wildest strongholds, their supplies running low, their crops destroyed,
and winter upon them--the insurgent tribes recognised that they were
irretrievably worsted. They had no heart for further fighting--their
principal thought now was to make the best terms they could for
themselves. So all along the frontier the disheartened savages were
flocking in to lay down their arms and surrender. Those who belonged to
independent tribes in the Transkei were treated as belligerents--and
after being disarmed were located at such places as the Government
thought fit. Those who were British subjects, and whose locations were
within the colonial boundaries, such as the Gaikas, Hlambis, and a
section of the Tembus, were treated as rebels and lodged in gaol until
such time as it should please the authorities to put them on their trial
for high treason, treason, felony, or sedition, according to their rank,
responsibilities, or deeds. Still the unfortunate barbarians preferred
to discount the chances of the future against present starvation--and
continued to come in, in swarms. The gaols were soon crammed to
overflowing; so, too, were the supplementary buildings hired for the
emergency.

Not all, however, had preferred imprisonment with plenty to liberty with
starvation. There were still armed bands lurking in the forest recesses
of the Amatola, and in the rugged and bushy fastnesses beyond the Kei.
While most of the chiefs of the colonial tribes had either surrendered
or been slain, the head and Paramount Chief of all was still at large.
"Kreli must be captured or killed," was the general cry. "Until this is
done the war can never be considered at an end." But the old chief had
no intention of submitting to either process if he could possibly help
it. He continued to make himself remarkably scarce.

Another character who was very particularly wanted was Hlangani, and for
this shrewd and daring leader the search was almost as ke