.
"But--we must keep up--we must keep up."

"Yes--yes," came the quick answer.

"There's just this I go upon," went on Edala. "If there are two men in
the world who could be reckoned on to keep their wits about them and do
the right thing at the right time, those two are father and Mr
Elvesdon. See my meaning?"

The other nodded.

"So we must hope for the best."

One thing that troubled Edala was that she could get no explanation
whatever from their escort. The head-ringed men had kept carefully on
the outskirts of the same, and when applied to to come over and talk had
ignored the appeal. After this she would not question the common or
unringed `boy,' so was obliged to practise patience and await
developments.

By the time they arrived at Sipazi it was nearly dark. Edala had more
than half-expected to find the homestead a mass of smouldering ruins--
but no. There it stood, yet there was a something that suggested the
unusual. There was no sign of life about the place for instance--no
smoke rising either from the kitchen chimney or from the huts of the
native servants. Could it be that the latter--together with the Indian
cook--had all been murdered? Edala drew rein, and addressed the escort.

"There is our home and now we are safe. If you would return you have
fulfilled your mission. If you would rest, there is food and drink
yonder."

They looked at each other and laughed queerly.

"Ride on, Nkosazana," said one of the ringed men.

Now there was sign of life with a vengeance, for the four great dogs
came charging down upon the new arrivals, open-mouthed, barking and
snarling savagely.

"Don't kill them, _amadoda_," said Edala, as assegais were detached, and
held with suggestive readiness. "They will not hurt."

But the savages were not going to be done out of their fun. A number of
them rushed forward. Assegais showered through the air, and the
unfortunate beasts lay transfixed by several of them, apiece, kicking
feebly in their death throes.

"I--jji! I--jji!" went up the death hiss from their slayers, together
with great hoarse shouts of laughter.

"The cruel wretches," murmured Evelyn, in shuddering disgust. Edala's
lips tightened, but she restrained herself. Their own lives were none
too secure, and this she knew.

Meanwhile the savages having tasted blood, even though only that of
animals, began questing inside the deserted huts, but found no one. No
cattle was in the kraals