left, drew the
ring from her thumb and thrust it upon my own little finger, animated by
some sudden impulse for which I could not in the least account.

And as the ring passed from her possession into mine, the change that
occurred in us both was startling in the extreme, particularly so as
regarded Bimbane. For a few seconds after I released her she remained
absolutely silent and motionless, as though scarcely able to realise
what had happened; then, instead of summoning her guards and handing me
over to their custody, she instantly became abjectly apologetic and
pleading, entreating me to restore her ring in exchange for anything and
everything that I might choose to demand. She offered me gold and
diamonds without limit, perfect liberty to remain in the country as its
honoured guest as long as I pleased, and all the help I might need in
the transport of my spoils when it should please me to start upon my
return journey; in short, she gave me clearly to understand that I need
set no limits upon my demands if I would but restore the ring to her.
But as for me, the moment that I slipped the jewel upon my finger I
became conscious of a strange, new, exhilarating sense of power, of
ability to do things, of being generally complete master of the
situation; and I determined that I would keep the ring, if for no other
reason than that Bimbane seemed to attach such an extraordinary value to
it, and to require its restoration so badly. I therefore left her at
last, quite exhausted with her fruitless entreaties, and doubled up in a
little, shapeless, miserably sobbing heap on the divan; and as I went
forth from the apartment I summoned her waiting women and directed them
to go in and attend to the queen, as I feared that Her Majesty was
unwell.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

THE CLIMAX OF THE ADVENTURE.

Hastening across to the suite of apartments I had thus far occupied, I
discarded the splendid garments which had been presented to me by the
queen, and in which I had been wont to appear in public, and resumed the
somewhat worn and faded suit in which I had arrived at Masakisale; after
which I turned my back upon the rooms, as I thought for ever, and
descended to where 'Mfuni awaited me, walking my horse to and fro before
the main entrance to the palace. The Mashona seemed somewhat startled
to behold me once more clad in my shabby travelling garments; but
without wasting any time in explaining matters I simply bade him hasten