h a dry laugh. "We have had enough of
each other."

Edala had been observing the change in her father of late, and now she
studied him more closely than ever. The harassed, worried look that had
been upon him had suddenly dropped off; simultaneously with the
departure of Manamandhla--she did not fail to observe. He became his
old calm, even-minded self. But a week later the Zulu returned.

"I would like to serve _Nkose_ a little longer," was his tranquil
explanation, when tackled by Thornhill. The latter looked at him in
silence for a few minutes. To the Zulu this deliberation gave no
anxiety.

"You can stay then," was the reply, uttered grimly.

"_Nkose_ is my father. He will care for me. Were I dead there are two
others, two of my own blood, who know that there are `mouths' on Sipazi
which swallow up men--who know which one it is that gives not back that
which it swallows--but yet that which it swallows could be brought back
with long lines. And I--_whau_, I know of one of these `mouths' which
gives back that which it swallows, but gives them back lame for the rest
of life."

Here was a contingency that had clean escaped Thornhill's calculations.
However, he showed no sign of being perturbed by the statement. Was it
true? A little reflection convinced him that in all probability it was
not. Manamandhla would never be such a fool as to share a momentous
secret--a, to him, valuable secret--with another, let alone with two
others. But he would pretend to believe it, all the same; so would the
blackmailer be thrown the more off his guard.

"Did your brother's son succeed with the additional two cows,
Manamandhla?" he said, airily, taking no notice of the Zulu's last
remark.

"Nearly. Not quite. It is in the air still. _Nkose_, two more would
complete the _lobola_, for the girl is fine and much sought after, and
her father--_whau_! he is miserly and loves cattle much."

"Yet I think one more will content him. We will talk further about it."
And Thornhill laughing to himself turned away.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So we have got that beast back again? I thought he had gone for good,"
said Edala, her straight, clear glance full on her father's face.

"Meaning Manamandhla? So did I, but I don't think he'll stay long--no,
not long."

Still she kept her glance upon him, and though the words were spoken
easily, naturally, and without any outward i