u
unreliable beggar."

"No; I'll be there. So long. So long, Crosse." And he turned his
horse's head into the track that led to his own compound. "Rum chap
that fellow Ames," said Inglefield, when he and the cattle inspector
were alone together. "He's a rattling good chap at bottom, and we are
really great pals, but we fight like the devil whenever we have to do
with each other officially."

"How's that?" said Crosse, a quiet, self-contained man, with a large
sandy beard and steady, reliable eyes.

"Oh, I don't know. He's so beastly officious--he calls it
conscientious. Always prating about `conscientious discharge of his
duties'--`can't conscientiously do it'--and so on. You know. Now, only
the other day--or, rather, just before he went on leave--he must needs
get my pet sergeant reduced--a fellow worth his weight in gold to me as
a hunter. Now, of course, the chap has turned sulky, and swears he's no
good--can't tell where game is or is likely to be, or anything."

"So. How did he get him reduced?"

"Oh, some rotten bother with that old nigger who was out to-day, Madula.
Nanzicele--Oh, blazes! I can't manage these infernal clicks."

"Never mind; you'll learn some day," said Crosse. "Well, what did
Nanzicele do?"

"Nothing. That's the point of the whole joke. He was sent to collar
some cattle from Madula, and he--didn't collar it."

"And is that why he was reduced?"

"No fear. It was for _trying_ to collar it. The niggers came in and
complained to Ames, and Ames insisted on an inquiry. He took two mortal
days over it, too; a rotten trumpery affair that ought to have been let
rip. Then a lot of darn red tape, and my sergeant was reduced. No;
Ames always pampers the niggers, and some day he'll find out his
mistake. If they come around--especially these indunas--he talks to
them as if they were somebody. _I'd_ sjambok them out of the compound."

Crosse, listening, was chuckling to himself, for he knew whose judgment
was likely to be the soundest, that of the speaker or that of Ames.
Then he said:--

"And this Nanzicele--is he that big tall Kafir who was nearest us, on
the outside of the line, during the cattle-shooting?"

"Yes; that's the chap. By George! he's a splendid chap, as plucky as
the very devil. Many a time I've had him out with me, and he'd go
through anything. He was with me once when I missed a charging lion out
beyond Inyati. _He_ didn't miss him, though--not much. I