others. Yet, I wonder how they first got the alarm. If it wasn't that
old Patolo is as reliable as death I should have thought that he had
cleared out all the cattle and goats, for decidedly someone has."

Evelyn had not noticed this little detail in the excitement and
apprehension attendant on their strange home-coming. More and more she
wondered at the other's strength, her almost awful coolness.

But in spite of their efforts real cheerfulness would not prevail.
Neither cared to open her heart to the other.

"I think we'd better get some sleep," said Edala presently. "We shall
have to start soon after midnight."

"Hark! What's that?" The speaker's face had gone white, and under the
circumstances, with her nerves all strung to high tension, even Edala
had started.

A low, indescribably hideous, moaning noise had arisen. It came from
the back of the house.

"Oh, it's nothing," she answered. "Come and see."

They went to the kitchen window, which looked out on the back. The moon
had risen, and the ghostly light revealed the form of a large bull. He
stood stamping and pawing the ground, uttering the while his hideous
uncanny moanings.

"Oh, I'll soon scoot him," said Edala, returning to the passage to take
down a raw-hide whip. "Only it's not much use. The brute'll be sure to
come back."

"Edala! You're never going out to face that dreadful beast!" cried
Evelyn, laying a detaining hand on her arm. Edala laughed shortly.

"You'll see him run directly."

But before she could reach the door the animal was seen suddenly to run
forward, and disappear behind the cattle-kraal, where his moaning, in
various keys, recommenced. Then he trotted back, tail in the air,
emitting a shrill, half terrified bellow. To one, at any rate, of those
who witnessed this performance the effect was indescribably weird.

"What does it mean?" she said.

"Nothing. The cattle often come round and make that row around the
place where the goats are killed. It's the blood, you know."

Then she suddenly stopped, for it flashed upon her that the spot at
which the moaning of the bull was at its highest and most excited pitch
was not that whereon the goats were killed.

"Anyhow, I'll just go out and scoot him. You stop here."

Evelyn watched her go outside. At sight of her the bull paused in his
stamping and scrapings and threw up his head, snuffing the air. Edala
swirled the whip-lash as she advanced towards him--she