That's good," I said. But at the same time I was not at all sure that
it was. I recalled to mind what Aida had said in her letter with regard
to "an influence" under which they seemed to be drawn, this old man
especially. No, it was not good that he should be on such terms with
natives, and one of them his own servant. For the first time I began to
distrust Ivondwe, though as yet I was groping entirely in the dark. For
one thing, I could see no adequate motive. Motive is everything,
bearing in mind what an essentially practical animal your savage
invariably is; and here there was none.

"Well?" said the Major expectantly, impatient under my silence. The
truth was I found myself in something of a quandary. Old gentlemen--
notably those of the Anglo-Indian persuasion--were, I knew, prone to
exceeding impatience under criticism of their latest fad, and for
reasons which scarcely need guessing never was there a time when I felt
less inclined to incur the resentment of this one.

"I can only repeat what I said before, Major?" I answered. "Candidly I
think you'd better leave Ukozi, and his occultism, alone."

"But it interests me, man. I tell you it interests me. Why shouldn't I
be allowed to make interesting investigations if I have a mind to?
Answer me that."

"Look here," I said. "I know these people, Major, and you don't. I
have a good many `eyes and ears'--as they would put it--scattered about
among them, and I'll try and find out what Ukozi's game is. He hasn't
started in to fleece you any, you say?"

"No. That he certainly hasn't."

"All the more reason why he needs looking after. Well now don't you
have anything more to say to him, at any rate until you hear from me
again."

"He won't give me the chance. I haven't seen him for quite a long time.
He's never been away for so long a time before."

In my own mind I could not but connect Ukozi's sudden absenteeism in
some way with my return.

"Here come the others," went on the Major. "And Glanton," he added
hurriedly, "don't let on to the women about what I've been telling you,
there's a good fellow."

I was rather glad to be spared the necessity of making or avoiding any
promise. It was near sundown, and as they joined us for a stroll in the
cool of the evening I thought to catch a significant flash in Aida's
eyes, as though she were fully aware of the burden of her father's
conversation with me. Falkner was away at the kraals, for it was