ell backwards into the
grave, still looking at me as she fell. Then Hendrika leaped after her
into the grave. I heard her feet strike heavily.

"_Awake, Macumazahn! awake!_" cried the voice of Indaba-zimbi.

I awoke and bounded from the bed, a cold perspiration pouring from me.
In the darkness on the other side of the hut I heard sounds of furious
struggling. Luckily I kept my head. Just by me was a chair on which were
matches and a rush taper. I struck a match and held it to the taper. Now
in the growing light I could see two forms rolling one over the other on
the floor, and from between them came the flash of steel. The fat melted
and the light burnt up. It was Indaba-zimbi and the woman Hendrika who
were struggling, and, what is more, the woman was getting the better of
the man, strong as he was. I rushed towards them. Now she was uppermost,
now she had wrenched herself from his fierce grip, and now the great
knife she had in her hand flashed up.

But I was behind her, and, placing my hands beneath her arms, jerked
with all my strength. She fell backwards, and, in her effort to save
herself, most fortunately dropped the knife. Then we flung ourselves
upon her. Heavens! the strength of that she-devil! Nobody who has not
experienced it could believe it. She fought and scratched and bit,
and at one time nearly mastered the two of us. As it was she did break
loose. She rushed at the bed, sprung on it, and bounded thence straight
up at the roof of the hut. I never saw such a jump, and could not
conceive what she meant to do. In the roof were the peculiar holes which
I have described. They were designed to admit light, and covered with
overhanging eaves. She sprung straight and true like a monkey, and,
catching the edge of the hole with her hands, strove to draw herself
through it. But here her strength, exhausted with the long struggle,
failed her. For a moment she swung, then dropped to the ground and fell
senseless.

"Ou!" gasped Indaba-zimbi. "Let us tie the devil up before she comes to
life again."

I thought this a good counsel, so we took a reim that lay in the corner
of the room, and lashed her hands and feet in such a fashion that even
she could scarcely escape. Then we carried her into the passage, and
Indaba-zimbi sat over her, the knife in his hand, for I did not wish to
raise an alarm at that hour of the night.

"Do you know how I caught her, Macumazahn?" he said. "For several nights
I have slept here