sping
a sword-bayonet, already foul with the dried stains of human blood; and
flitting through the brake, their dark forms decked with cowhair and
other fantastic adornments, glistening in the sun, a band of armed
savages bent on the shedding of blood. But not being blessed--or the
reverse--with the faculty of clairvoyance, all she did see was the
eminently peaceful scene around her--the two men lazily smoking their
pipes beneath the shade of the great tree, while the third moved about
attending to some of the hundred and one details of his farm business;
the figure of her hostess, her head protected by an ample white "kapje,"
coming forth to see that four of her young, disporting themselves in the
open in front of the house, were not getting into more mischief than
usual, and retiring precipitately within to assuage the yells of the
fifth, and haply to attend to some household duty, "Where he is now?"
repeated Moseley. "Why, he can't be far from here. He's Native
Commissioner of Sikumbutana. I don't suppose his place can be more than
twenty or twenty-two miles off. Eh, Dibs?"

"About that," assented Tarrant, laconically.

"I should so like to see him again," pursued Nidia.

"Nothing easier, Miss Commerell. Get Hollingworth to send over a boy
with a note, or a message to that effect, and I predict Ames will be
here like a shot."

"I'm sure he would," assented Nidia, in such a genuinely and naturally
pleased tone as to set Tarrant the cynic, Tarrant the laconic, Tarrant
the incipient admirer of herself, staring. "We were great friends down
at the Cape, and made no end of expeditions together. Yes; I would like
to see him again."

"Phew!" whistled Tarrant to himself, not entirely deceived by her
consummate ingenuousness. "Lucky Ames! Well, there's no show for me in
that quarter, that's manifest."

"Isn't he that rather good-looking chap who was sitting at our table the
day I had lunch with you at Cogill's?" said Moseley.

"Yes. That's the man. We soon got to know him, and saw a great deal of
him."

"And thought a great deal of him?"

"Well, yes. I can see that you're trying to tease me, Mr Moseley, but
I don't care. I don't know when I've seen a man I liked better."

"`Present company--' of course?"

"No; not even present company. No; but really, I would like to let Mr
Ames know I am here. But I don't like to ask Mr Hollingworth. It's a
long way to send, and he may not be able to spare a boy