"I don't know if it'll ever be finished," she said. "I believe I'd be
scared to come and sit here again. I don't know. I'll bring a shot-gun
loaded with buckshot. No snake on earth could stand against that."

"Rather not," answered the other, vastly amused by this readiness, a
downright matter-of-fact way of looking at things. "I suppose--er--you
know how to handle firearms."

"Oh yes. I've learnt that. But I never bother about carrying them for
purposes of defence. There's no use for it here."

"What about the natives? Is it quite wise for you to go rambling about
the veldt alone, do you think?"

"Of course. Why they have known me all my life, and I have known them.
There isn't one of them anywhere round here who wouldn't--give his life
for me, I was almost going to say--let alone harm me."

The other was still more puzzled, and relapsed into silence for a
little, thinking even yet harder as to the personality of the other
actor in this strange adventure. She, for her part, was no less busied
with regard to him. She saw beside her, as they stepped along the bush
path together, some six feet of well-proportioned British manhood, not
exactly in the first youth, and yet on the right side of middle age; and
the bronzed face and clear eyes told of healthy wholesome living, and
the readiness of resource of their owner she herself had just had an
opportunity of gauging. The result was satisfactory.

The bush path ended, then a narrow one bordering a quince hedge which
shut in a fine fruit garden. Here they overtook a man, who, at sound of
footsteps, turned inquiringly--a tall man, with a strong, good-looking
face and full brown beard just streaking with grey. The girl's clear
voice broke the silence.

"Father. This gentleman has just saved my life."

CHAPTER TWO.

THE NEW MAGISTRATE.

The older man started.

"What's that?" he said quickly, looking from the one to the other.

Briefly she told him. This was a man not easily moved, but he was then.

"And I should have been lying there instead of that poor horse,"
concluded the girl.

"I should think you would." Then, to the stranger, "Well, sir, I don't
quite know what to say to you or how to put it--but I believe you can
understand."

The said stranger, almost writhing from the force of the hand grip which
the other was administering to him, realised that he did understand.
This strong, impassive-looking man was obviously moved to the c