devil his food, eh, Josane?" said
Shelton. "When are they likely to come?"

"It may not be for days. But there is another side to that plan. What
if they should have discovered that we are in here and decide to lie in
wait for us?"

"Oh, by Jove! That certainly is a reverse side to the medal," cried
Hoste, with a long whistle of dismay. And indeed the idea of two such
formidable enemies as the redoubted Gcaleka warrior and the ferocious
witch-doctress lurking in such wise as to hold them entirely at their
mercy was not a pleasant one. There was hardly a yard of the way where
one determined adversary, cunningly ambushed, would not hold their lives
in his hand. No. Any scheme for exacting reprisals had better keep
until they were once more in the light of day. The sooner they rescued
their unfortunate friend and got quit of the place the better.

And even here they had their work fully cut out for them. How were they
to get at the wretched maniac? The idea of descending into that
horrible pit was not an alluring one; and, apart from this, what sort of
reception would they meet with from its occupant? That the latter
regarded them in anything but a friendly light was manifest. How, then,
were they ever to convey to the unfortunate creature that their object
was the reverse of hostile? Tom Carhayes was well-known to be a man of
great physical power. Tom Carr hayes--a gibbering, mouthing lunatic--a
furious demoniac--no wonder they shrank from approaching him.

"Silence! Darken the light!"

The words, quick, low, peremptory--proceeded from Josane. In an instant
Eustace obeyed. The slide of the lantern was turned.

"I listen--I hear," went on the Kafir in the same quick whisper. "There
are steps approaching."

Every ear was strained to the uttermost. Standing in the pitchy
blackness and on the brink of that awful pit, no one dared move so much
as a foot.

And now a faint and far-away sound came floating through the darkness; a
strange sound, as of the soft bass of voices from the distant
spirit-world wailing weirdly along the ghostly walls of the tunnel. It
seemed, too, that ever so faint a light was melting the gloom in the
distance. The effect was indescribable in its awesomeness. The
listeners held their very breath.

"Up here," whispered Josane, referring to the shaft already mentioned.
"No! show no light--not a glimmer. Hold on to each other's shoulder--
you, Ixeshane, hold on to mine--Q