patches shimmered under a haze of heat. I saw
odd little movements in the bush--a buck's head raised, a paauw
stalking solemnly in the long grass, a big crocodile rolling off a
mudbank in the river. And then I saw quite clearly Laputa's figure
going east.

In my sleep I did not think about Arcoll's manoeuvres. My mind was
wholly set upon Laputa. He was walking wearily, yet at a good pace,
and his head was always turning, like a wild creature snuffing the
wind. There was something with him, a shapeless shadow, which I could
not see clearly. His neck was bare, but I knew well that the collar
was in his pouch.

He stopped, turned west, and I lost him. The bush world for a space
was quite silent, and I watched it eagerly as an aeronaut would watch
the ground for a descent. For a long time I could see nothing. Then
in a wood near a river there seemed to be a rustling. Some guinea-fowl
flew up as if startled, and a stembok scurried out. I knew that Laputa
must be there.

Then, as I looked at the river, I saw a head swimming. Nay, I saw two,
one some distance behind the other. The first man landed on the far
bank, and I recognized Laputa. The second was a slight short figure,
and I knew it was Henriques.

I remember feeling very glad that these two had come together. It was
certain now that Henriques would not escape. Either Laputa would find
out the truth and kill him, or I would come up with him and have my
revenge. In any case he was outside the Kaffir pale, adventuring on
his own.

I watched the two till they halted near a ruined building. Surely this
was the store I had built at Umvelos'. The thought gave me a horrid
surprise. Laputa and Henriques were on their way to the Rooirand!

I woke with a start to find my forehead damp with sweat. There was some
fever on me, I think, for my teeth were chattering. Very clear in my
mind was the disquieting thought that Laputa and Henriques would soon
be in the cave.

One of two things must happen--either Henriques would kill Laputa, get
the collar of rubies, and be in the wilds of Mozambique before I could
come up with his trail; or Laputa would outwit him, and have the
handling himself of the treasure of gold and diamonds which had been
laid up for the rising. If he thought there was a risk of defeat, I
knew he would send my gems to the bottom of the Labongo, and all my
weary work would go for nothing. I had forgotten all about patriotism.
In that