n the circle of
light, and looking about him, said,

"Where is Red-Beard, Macumazahn?"

I answered that I did not know and waited, for I felt sure that he had
something to say.

"I think that you had better keep Red-Beard close to you, Macumazahn,"
he went on. "This afternoon, when you had returned from visiting the
white doctoress and having eaten, had gone to sleep under the wall
yonder, I saw Red-Beard come out of the house carrying a gun and a bag
of cartridges. His eyes rolled wildly and he turned first this way and
then that, sniffing at the air, like a buck that scents danger. Then he
began to talk aloud in his own tongue and as I saw that he was speaking
with his Spirit, as those do who are mad, I went away and left him."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because, as you know, Macumazahn, it is a law among us Zulus never to
disturb one who is mad and engaged in talking with his Spirit. Moreover,
had I done so, probably he would have shot me, nor should I have
complained who would have thrust myself in where I had no right to be."

"Then why did you not come to call me, Umslopogaas?"

"Because then he might have shot you, for, as I have seen for some time
he is inspired of heaven and knows not what he does upon the earth,
thinking only of the Lady Sad-Eyes who has been stolen away from him, as
is but natural. So I left him walking up and down, and when I returned
later to look, saw that he was gone, as I thought into this walled hut.
Now when Hansi tells me that he is not here, I have come to speak to you
about him."

"No, certainly he is not here," I said, and I went to look at the bed
where Robertson slept to see if it had been used that evening.

Then for the first time I saw lying on it a piece of paper torn from a
pocketbook and addressed to myself. I seized and read it. It ran thus:

"The merciful Lord has sent me a vision of Inez and shown me where she
is over the cliff-edge away to the west, also the road to her. In
my sleep I heard her talking to me. She told me that she is in great
danger--that they are going to marry her to some brute--and called to
me to come at once and save her; yes, and to come alone without saying
anything to anyone. So I am going at once. Don't be frightened or
trouble about me. All will be well, all will be quite well. I will tell
you the rest when we meet."

Horrorstruck I translated this insane screed to Umslopogaas and Hans.
The former nodded gravely.

"Did I not tell you