quarter I had some difficulty in getting them brought in
at all. In view of the troubled state of the border this looked
ominous. In ordinary times Majendwa's people like other Zulus, though
hard men of business at a deal, were reliability itself once that deal
was concluded. Now they were inclined to be shifty and evasive and not
always over civil; and all this had come about suddenly. Could it mean
that war had actually broken out? It might have for all we knew,
dependent as we were upon those among whom we dwelt for every scrap of
information that might reach us from outside. Otherwise their behaviour
was unaccountable. But if it had, why then we should be lucky to get
out of the country with unperforated skins, let alone with a wheel or a
hoof to our names.

Even Majendwa's demeanour towards me had undergone a change, and that
was the worst sign of all; for we had always been good friends. All his
wonted geniality had vanished and he had become curt and morose of
manner. I resolved now to take the bull by the horns, and put the
question to Majendwa point-blank. Accordingly I betook myself to his
hut, with that object. But the answer to my inquiries for him was
prompt. The chief was in his _isigodhlo_, and could not be disturbed.
This sort of "not at home" was unmistakable. I returned to the waggons.

Now an idea struck me. Was there more in that gruesome discovery of
mine--and Falkner's--than met the eye? Was the fact that we had made
it, first one of us and then the other, at the bottom of the chief's
displeasure? It might have been so. At any rate the sooner we took the
road again the better, and so I announced to Falkner that we would
inspan at sunrise. His reply was, in his then mood, characteristic.

"But we haven't traded off the stuff yet," he objected. "I say. You're
not in a funk of anything, are you, Glanton? I ask because I rather
wanted to stay on here a little longer."

I turned away. His tone was abominably provoking, moreover I knew that
he would be glad enough to return, and had only said the foregoing out
of sheer cussedness.

"You have your horse," I said. "If you like to remain I'll leave Jan
Boom with you, and you can easily find your way back."

"Want to get rid of me, do you?" he rapped out. "Well you won't. Not
so easily as that. No--you won't."

To this I made no answer. At sunrise the waggons were inspanned. Then
another difficulty cropped up. The boys wh