hand for the
paper, and fixing his glasses with the other. A glance up and down a
column, then a turning over of the sheet. Then a sudden, undisguised
start.

"God bless my soul! What's this?"

His hand shook as he held the news sheet, running his glance hastily
down it. "Why, that must be Hilary. There, Canon, read it out I can
hardly see--there--that paragraph."

The old priest took the paper. "`Trouble brewing in Mashonaland'? Is
that it? Yes? Well, here's what they say:--

"`Stirring times seem in store for our Chartered Company's pioneers in
their new Eldorado. It has been known that Lo Bengula's concession of
the mining rights in Mashonaland to that Company was very distasteful
to his people, and for some time past these have been manifesting
their displeasure in such wise as to show that it is only a question
of time when the settlers of Mashonaland will find themselves called
upon to vindicate their rights by force, against their truculent
neighbours. The last instance that we have seems to have happened
early in November, when an armed force of Matabele crossed into
Mashonaland, raiding and threatening at their own sweet will. Several
native servants in the employ of settlers were murdered in cold blood,
Lo Bengula's warriors asserting their right to carry on their
time-honoured pastime, declaring that the lives of these people were
not included in the concession; but so far they have refrained from
murdering Europeans. One specific example of the unbridled
aggressiveness of these savages is also to hand. The impi went to the
house of a man named Blachland, a trader and hunter residing near the
head waters of the Umnyati river. Two of his servants had got wind of
its approach, and after warning their master fled for their lives to
the bush. It appears however, that Blachland was ill with a bad
attack of fever, and too weak to move.'"

An exclamation from Percival and Sir Luke caused the reader to pause.

"Go on, Canon, go on," said the latter hurriedly.

"`It appears that the induna in charge of the impi was well known to
the sick man, and while he entered the house and engaged the latter in
conversation, his followers amused themselves by ransacking the
out-premises. Here they discovered two little Mashona boys,
Blachland's servants, who were hiding in terror. These were dragged
forth, and regardless of their shrieks for mercy, wer