had taken place, knew that his life hung upon a hair.
There was a shifty sullenness about the manner of the indunas that was
not lost upon him. And groups of their followers would continually
saunter up to observe him, some swaggering and talking loud, though in
deference to the chiefs, not coming very near, others quiet, but all
scowling and hostile. Nothing escaped him. He read the general
demeanour of the savages like an open book. Short of a miracle he was
destined not to leave this place alive.

The day was wearing on, and now the sun was already behind the crags
which rose above the camp. It would soon be dusk. Every faculty on the
alert, always bearing in view the precious life which depended upon his,
he was calculating to a minute how soon he could carry into effect the
last and desperate plan, the while he was conversing in the most even of
tones, striving to impress upon his hearers the futility, in the long
run, of thinking to drive the white man out. They had done nothing
overt as yet. Let them return, and all would be well.

What of their cattle which had all been killed? they asked. It was
evident Makiwa was anxious to destroy the people, since cattle were the
life of the people. So John Ames was obliged to go all over the same
ground again; but, after all, it was a safe topic. He knew, as well as
they did, that the murder of the Hollingworths, of the Inglefields, and
every other massacre which had surprised and startled the scattered
white population, was instigated and approved by these very men, but
this was not the time to say so. Wherefore he temporised.

The first shadow of dusk was deepening over the halting-place. Already
fires were beginning to gleam out redly.

"Fare ye well, _Izinduma_" he said, rising. "I must now go on my way.
May it be soon that we meet again as we met before. Fare ye well!"

They grunted out a gruff acknowledgment, and he walked away. Now was
the critical moment. The warriors, standing in groups, or squatted
around the fires, eyed him as he passed through. Some gave him
greeting, others uttered a jeering half laugh, but a sudden stillness
had fallen upon the hitherto buzzing and restless crowd. It was a
moment to remain in a man's mind for life--the dark forms and savage,
hostile faces, the great tufted shields and shining assegai blades, and
gun-barrels, and this one man pacing through their midst, unarmed now,
and absolutely at the mercy of any one