en brawl in the
bar tent--how was he going to impress Qubani, at the crucial moment,
with a bunged-up eye, perchance, or a bleeding nose. He would only look
ridiculous, not in the least impressive, and it was of vital importance
he should look impressive.

"Yes, I can," he answered shortly, "but I'm not going to--now."

A murmur of disgust arose from among some of the bystanders. Lamont had
funked again.

"Then you're a blanked coward," yelled Steele, and the murmurs deepened.
And yet--and yet--there was a look in Lamont's dark face which made
some of them pause, for it was not exactly the look of one who was
afraid, rather was it that of a man who was trying to restrain himself.

"I'm not going to now," he said shortly, "but I'll accommodate you where
and when you like, after the gymkhana's over. We can't start bruising
now, with a lot of ladies on the scene. Now, can we?"

The bystanders, thus appealed to, saw the sense of this. Besides, they
were not going to be done out of their fun this time. It was only fun
adjourned.

"No, no. That's quite right and reasonable. Jim, you can't kick up a
row here now. Take it out of him afterwards," were some of the cries
that arose.

"He won't be there. He'll scoot."

"Oh no, I won't," answered Lamont. "I'll be there,"--"if any of us
are," he added to himself grimly.

He finished his liquor and went outside. There was a lull in the
proceedings, and people were moving about and talking, pending the
distribution of the prizes.

"Greeting, Qubani. That is good. Last time we talked was `kwa
Zwabeka.'"

"_Ou_! Lamonti is my father," answered the old witch-doctor. Then,
having fired off a long string of _sibongo_, he concluded that the sun
was very hot, and it was long since he had drunk anything.

"That shall be presently when these are gone," said Lamont. "But
first--walk round with me, and I will show you where the horses race.
It is good to see the chief of all _izanusi_ again."

The old ruffian complied, nothing loth. He was thinking that the more
exuberant his friendliness the more completely would he lull all
suspicion among these fools of whites. He professed himself profoundly
interested in everything explained to him.

"I saw you ride, Lamonti," he said. "_Whau_! but you did pick up the
little bits of wood with the long spear. That was great--great. But
the other _Inkosi_ was greater."

"Yes, the other was greater, Qubani, but what mad