iving as to the Xosa's good faith--the fact
that he had agreed to my being accompanied by two tried and trusted
comrades seemed to prove that. Though had he stipulated that I should
have gone alone, I should, while prepared for any emergency,
unhesitatingly have accepted the conditions. Again, the reward was
quite enough to tempt a man of his courage, especially as he came of a
totally different race, added to which the corner of curtain which he
had just lifted was sufficient to show that he bore a grudge against the
witch doctor, not to say a very pretty feud. How and why this should
be, passed my understanding, but I knew enough of natives and their ways
to know that I didn't know them, as, indeed, I believe no white man ever
really does.

And the motive of this outrage? Clearly, it was due to some dark
superstition, as I had suspected from the very first. She had not been
injured up till now, would not be unless we failed to arrive in time.
There was unspeakable comfort in this, for I felt confident the Xosa was
sure of his facts. But what stages of horror and despair must she not
have passed through since her mysterious capture? Well the villainous
witch doctor should pay a heavy reckoning and those who had helped him;
and, thinking of it, I, too, was all eagerness he should be taken alive;
for a great many years of hard labour--perhaps with lashes thrown in--
which should be his reward, would be a far worse thing to him than a
mere swift and easy death.

Then followed a reaction. What if Jan Boom had miscalculated and we
arrived too late after all? A cold perspiration poured down me at the
thought. "She will die, and that not easily," had been his words. That
pointed to torture--oh good God! My innocent beautiful love! in the
power of these fiends, and sacrificed to their hellish superstitions,
and I helpless here! I seemed to be going mad.

No. That wouldn't do. I was letting my imagination run away with me in
the silence and the darkness, and above all I wanted cool-headedness and
strength. I must make up my mind to believe the Xosa's word and that
all would yet be well. By this time the next night she would be with us
again safe and sound.

Then I fell to wondering what sort of hiding-place could be found within
a walk--an easy walk apparently--of my dwelling, and it baffled me. I
could think of none. Moreover the surroundings had been scoured in
search of the missing Hensley, and nothing