e bargain. And the
situation was serious enough in itself. They had no doubt but that the
whole native population was up in arms, and here they were, only three,
and afoot at that, in the heart of the hostile ground. True they were
well-armed, and two of them, at any rate, resolute and full of resource;
but even that wouldn't count for much with an entire population against
them.

"Well, see how you feel after a feed, Ancram," said Lamont. "We can
rest here a bit too. In fact, it's none too safe travelling in the
daytime at all."

They were out of the forest belt now, and the spot marked out for their
halt was on the side of a great granite kopje, with long tambuti grass
and acacia growing right up around its base. Hence they could see, and
not be seen. Lamont and Peters took turn about to watch, while the
other two slept. A friendly squabble took place between them as to who
should take first watch, and, as usual in such a case, Peters had to
`obey orders.'

It was a wretched day. The dreary cloudiness had turned to drizzle.
Under ordinary circumstances the prospect of rain would have been heart
rejoicing. Now, with his homestead blown to bits, and no prospect of
returning to his farm, possibly for months, or doing any good with it
when he got there, the watcher was wishing the longed-for rain somewhere
else. In spite of the night's exertions he felt no desire for sleep,
and as he sat there, while the other two snored, gazing forth on the
drear wildness of the scene before him, why was it that his thoughts
should revert so persistently to Clare Vidal? Yet they did. He
recalled that scene on the race-course, and somehow he could remember
every word she had said, and how she had said it. Then that last visit
he had made at Fullerton's, and entirely at her request--what a strange,
witching enchantment had hung around her all the time! She had made
much of him, but in such an insidious and tactful way--what did it all
mean? He had always been a bit of a misogynist, and had looked upon
women and their fascinations with a kind of contemptuous aloofness, only
broken through when he knew and became engaged to Violet Courtland. And
now at last he could dwell upon that day at Courtland Mere without a
stirring of the mind, unless it were a stirring of relief. But--why?

The day wore on, and it was not until late in the afternoon that the
sleepers awoke.

"What's this?" said Peters sharply, sitting upright.