dgment, and on no account loose off a shot
unless we are absolutely and unequivocally obliged. Is that understood,
you fellows?"

"Certainly," was the answer on the part of myself and Revell. But Trask
was not so unanimous.

"Do you mean to say, Matterson, that I'm to let a nigger cut my throat
before I pull trigger on him? Because if so, I'm lowed if I do, and
that's all about it," he said.

There was a queer look in Brian's face as he answered--

"I mean to say nothing so idiotic. But, all things considered, Trask,
perhaps you'll oblige me by going home, and leaving us three to
straighten out this worry. Now do. We shall get on so much better that
way."

"What the very devil do you mean, Matterson?" blustered Trask.

"What I say--no more, no less. I'm bossing this undertaking. I'm
obliged to you for volunteering, but if you think you've got a better
plan than mine, why we shan't get on. That's all."

"Oh, blazes, man. I didn't mean that. I'll do anything you like,"
answered Trask, after a moment's hesitation, during which all hands
thought the row might end in blows. "I'm not going to turn tail and go
back now--not much."

"It's no question of turning tail, but of using ordinary and sound
judgment," rejoined Brian. "We shall be glad enough of your help on
those terms."

"Oh, all right, old chap. Say no more about it," conceded the other
with a sort of bluff, would-be good-natured growl--and the difference
thus patched up, we resumed our way.

But I, in my heart of hearts, most devoutly wished we were through with
it, for in marching into the nest of fierce and truculent barbarians
which was our objective, it seemed to me we were placing ourselves
between the very sharp horns of a bad dilemma. In sheer savagery, and
trusting in the immunity which a paternal Government would be sure to
extend to them, the sportive barbarians aforesaid might incontinently
massacre the lot of us, or, if in defending ourselves any of our enemies
got hurt, why then under the laws of our country we might have to stand
our trial for murder. But the third solution of the difficulty, that we
should return with whole skins and clean hands, and that for which we
had come out, viz., the recovered stock, seemed to me just then rather
too good to be hoped for.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

CHECKED.

For some hours we held on without difficulty. It became very hot. The
sun's rays poured down into the close, shut-in kloof