e would be seized by the
monster and never be seen or heard of again. And now, and now--this
unspeakably horrible and revolting fate, instead of overtaking the old
man, had overtaken Aida, my love, the sun and Paradise of my life,
instead. She had been substituted for him, as the easier, possibly the
more acceptable victim.

But, Ukozi! Whatever might happen to me I would capture and revenge
myself upon him in a manner which should out-do the vengeance of the
most vindictive and cruel of his own countrymen. I would spend days and
nights gloating over his agony, and afterwards it should be talked about
with fear and shuddering among the whole population of the border--ay,
and beyond it I would do it; how I knew not, but, I would do it. All
hell was seething in my brain just then--all hell, as I thought of my
love, in her daintiness and grace; the very embodiment of a refinement
and an elevating influence that was almost--no, entirely--divine,
sacrificed horribly to the revolting superstitions of these savages,
whom I had hitherto regarded as equalling in manly virtues those who
could boast of centuries of so-called civilisation at their backs. And
yet--revenge--could it bring back to me my love--my sweet lost love?

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

THE DIVE OF THE WATER RAT.

We stood there--we four--gazing into each other's livid faces. Then the
Major broke down. Sinking to the ground he covered his face with his
hands and sobbed. I broke fiercely away. I could not stand for a
moment doing nothing, so I set to work to go right round the pool and
see if I could find any further trace. But the search was a vain one.

"The next thing is, what are we going to do?" said Falkner when we had
rejoined them. "We don't propose to spend the rest of the day staring
at each other like stuck pigs, I take it?"

"We ought to drag the hole," I said, "but we haven't got the necessary
appliances, nor even a draw net. Can any of you think of some
expedient?"

"We might get a long pole, and splice a couple of meat-hooks to the end
somehow," said Falkner, "and probe about with that. Only, the cursed
hole is about a mile too deep for the longest pole to get anywhere near
the bottom in the middle."

"_Amakosi_!"

We started at the interruption. So intent had we been that not one of
us had been aware of the approach of a fifth--and he a native.

"Ha, Ivondwe!" I cried, recognising him. "What knowest thou of this,
for I t