hicle, with its carefully packed cargo, and
hung about with pots and kettles and game horns, and every sort of
miscellaneous article which it was not convenient to stow within. "Ah,
there's the skin. Why, yes, Hilary, it is a fine one!"

The native servants gathered to admire the great mane and mighty paws
there spread out, and many were the excited ejaculations and comments
they fired off. The skin, being fresh, was unpleasantly gory--notably
the hole made by the bullet where it had penetrated the skull.

"What a neat shot!" exclaimed Hermia, an expression of mingled
admiration and disgust upon her face as she bent down to examine the
huge head. Was it a part of her scheme, or the genuine admiration of
every woman for a feat of physical prowess, that caused her to turn to
Blachland with almost a proud, certainly an approving look? If the
former, it served its purpose; for Justin began to feel more jealous and
sorer than ever.

"_Nkose_!"

Blachland turned. A native stood forth with uplifted hand, hailing him.
He had seen this man among his servants, but did not choose to
recognise him first.

"Oh, it is you, Hlangulu?" he said, speaking in Sindabele; which tongue
is a groundwork of Zulu overlaid with much Sechuana and Sesutu. "That
is strange, for since you disappeared from our camp on the Matya'mhlope,
on the morning that we went to see the King, I have not set eyes on
you."

"_Au_!" replied the man, with a half-smile, bringing his hand to his
mouth in deprecatory gesture, "that is true, _Nkose_. But the Great
Great One required me to stand among the ranks of the warriors. Now I
am free once more, I would fain serve _Nkose_ again."

Blachland looked musingly at him, but did not immediately reply.

"I would fain serve a white man who can so easily slay a great thing
like that," went on Hlangulu. "Take me, _Nkose_. You will not find me
useless for hunting, and I know of that as to which _Nkose_ would like
to know."

Blachland did not start at these last words, which were spoken with
meaning, but he would have if his nerves had not long since been
schooled to great self-control.

For, remembering the subject under discussion the last time he had seen
this man, whom they had all suspected of eavesdropping,--being moreover,
accustomed to native ways of talking "dark," he had no doubt whatever as
to the meaning intended to be conveyed.

"Sit still a while, Hlangulu," he said. "I am not sure I have