rrency, not even
the formidable reputation of the Mashonas would have sufficed to prevent
a rush of prospectors into the country. No such rush had ever occurred,
for, if it had, the news of it would have spread like wildfire, and
every individual in the colony, to its most remote outskirts, would have
heard of it. The fact, therefore, that no rush had occurred was
conclusive proof that my friend Henderson was the sole repository of the
momentous secret, which he had contrived to keep strictly to himself all
those years. And now at last he had imparted it to me, and I was free
to go up there, if I pleased, and acquire a fortune. True, there was a
certain element of risk and danger in the project, for there were a
thousand miles or more to be traversed through a roadless, savage
country, of which little or nothing was then known except that it was
infested by several of the most ferocious species of animals and
reptiles, as well as millions of even more ferocious natives. And
during a journey of a thousand miles through such a country almost
anything was possible. But the spice of danger attaching to the journey
appealed to me as an attraction rather than a deterrent; I should enjoy
some of the finest sport that the world had to offer, and, with luck,
might return a wealthy man. These alone were sufficient inducements;
but there was another and still stronger one, which was--Nell Lestrange.
She was so young at the time of her abduction, was so young still, that
I hoped nothing very terrible had thus far happened to her; but it was
unthinkable that a white girl should be permitted to grow up to
womanhood among savages, and I was not altogether without the hope that
during the progress of my journey I might be able to ascertain her
whereabouts and effect her rescue. With so many strong inducements in
favour of Henderson's suggestion, and only one--that comprised in the
element of danger and uncertainty--against it, it is not to be wondered
at that before I slept that night I had definitely decided to act upon
the major's advice and undertake the journey.

This decision I duly communicated to my host on the following morning
over the breakfast table, and thereupon we proceeded forthwith to
discuss details. The major was of opinion that I ought to begin my
preparations forthwith, for the season was rapidly advancing; it was
then precisely the right time to start upon an up-country trek, for the
rainy season was over,