ho
spoke. He looked straight through me, and addressed Machudi's men.

'You have brought back the prisoner. That is well, and your service
will be remembered. Go to 'Mpefu's camp on the hill there, and you
will be given food.'

The men departed, and with them fell away the crowd which had followed
me. I was left, very giddy and dazed, to confront Laputa and his
chiefs. The whole scene was swimming before my eyes. I remember there
was a clucking of hens from somewhere behind the kraal, which called up
ridiculous memories. I was trying to remember the plan I had made in
Machudi's glen. I kept saying to myself like a parrot: 'The army
cannot know about the jewels. Laputa must keep his loss secret. I can
get my life from him if I offer to give them back.' It had sounded a
good scheme three hours before, but with the man's hard face before me,
it seemed a frail peg to hang my fate on.

Laputa's eye fell on me, a clear searching eye with a question in it.

There was something he was trying to say to me which he dared not put
into words. I guessed what the something was, for I saw his glance run
over my shirt and my empty pockets.

'You have made little of your treachery,' he said. 'Fool, did you
think to escape me? I could bring you back from the ends of the earth.'

'There was no treachery,' I replied. 'Do you blame a prisoner for
trying to escape? When shooting began I found myself free, and I took
the road for home. Ask Machudi's men and they will tell you that I
came quietly with them, when I saw that the game was up.'

He shrugged his shoulders. 'It matters very little what you did. You
are here now.-- Tie him up and put him in my kya,' he said to the
bodyguard. 'I have something to say to him before he dies.'

As the men laid hands on me, I saw the exultant grin on Henriques'
face. It was more than I could endure.

'Stop,' I said. 'You talk of traitors, Mr Laputa. There is the
biggest and blackest at your elbow. That man sent word to Arcoll about
your crossing at Dupree's Drift. At our outspan at noon yesterday he
came to me and offered me my liberty if I would help him. He told me
he was a spy, and I flung his offer in his face. It was he who shot
the Keeper by the river side, and would have stolen the Snake if I had
not broken his head. You call me a traitor, and you let that thing
live, though he has killed your priest and betrayed your plans. Kill
me if you like, but by God let