spair she desisted, and stood panting with the exertion.

The key? To obtain it she would have to enter the house: No, that was
not to be thought of--not for a moment. Then another idea struck her.
The kitchen door was at the back of the house. No gruesome spectacle of
slaughter would meet her eyes if she entered that department, and it was
just possible she might find something there, enough, at any rate, to
sustain life for a day or two.

No sooner thought out than acted upon. With beating heart she stood
within the room. It was as it had been left--crockery in a semi-washed
state; utensils lying about; and--her pulses gave a throb of joy--there
on a table stood a pie-dish, containing about half of a cold pie.
Beside it, too, were three boiled mealie-cobs. The latter she placed in
the empty half of the dish, and, laden with this most opportune spoil,
she went outside, and having gently closed the door, took her way down
the river-path again.

But ere she was half way again the sound of voices was borne to her
ears. Standing still for a moment she listened intently. They were
native voices, and--they were drawing nearer. Swiftly she fled down the
river-path, and having regained her place of refuge, lay within it like
a hunted animal, all inclination for food now gone.

No further sound arose to disturb her, and presently a drowsiness came
upon her, and she fell fast asleep, slumbering peacefully and
dreamlessly. Hour after hour went by, and the sun mounted high in the
heavens. When at length she did awaken, lo! the day was half gone. But
she felt greatly refreshed, and attacked the viands she had so
opportunely discovered with good appetite.

And now Nidia made her first and great mistake. She should have
remained where she was until the following day, starting with the very
first glimmer of dawn upon her long and weary pilgrimage. This would
have given her the advantage of several cool hours in which to travel.
Instead, she decided to start at once.

She went over to one of the water-holes, of which there were several,
and took a long deep drink. Then she made her way down the dry bed of
the river. It was easier walking, for there was no bush or long grass
to impede her way, and had the further advantage of screening her from
observation. Two or three times, after peeping cautiously forth, she
had stolen across a neck of ground so as to shorten the way where the
river-bed made a long bend; but t