and
another, rich, musical, feminine--and it I recognised with a tightening
of the heart. Both were approaching, in such wise as would bring the
speakers almost within touch of us.

And the two fiends, the one with the coiled thong, and the other,
crouched--waiting.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

THE LATEST VICTIM.

There she stood--Aida, my love. I could see every line of the sweet
pale face, turned full towards me in the moonlight, but it wore a
half-dazed look as that of one who walks and talks in her sleep. But it
bore no sign of fear.

"This is the third night, _Inkosikazi_, and it is time to restore you to
your own people," Ukozi was saying. "You will tell them that we have
not harmed you, but that your presence was necessary for three nights,
to render perfect our _muti_."

She looked as if she but half understood him, and nodded her head. They
were but a few paces from us, and where they had emerged from we could
not make out. Their backs were toward the horrid remains, and also
toward the two crouching figures.

"So now we are ready. Come."

This was clearly a signal, for the two crouching figures sprang up and
forward to seize her. The first went down like a felled bullock, under
a judiciously planted whack from Jan Boom's knobkerrie as we leapt from
our concealment. Falkner had grappled with the witch doctor, but Ukozi
was a muscular and powerful savage, and it taxed all his younger
foeman's athletic resources to hold him. He writhed and struggled, and
the two were rolling over and over on the ground. Then Jan Boom seizing
his chance, let out again with his formidable knobkerrie, bringing it
down bang in the middle of Ukozi's skull. He, too, flattened out. The
third, held at the point of Kendrew's pistol, had already surrendered.

"Better tie them up sharp before they come to," said Falkner. "Here
goes for Mr Witch Doctor anyhow."

All this had happened in a moment. In it I had borne no active part, my
first care and attention had been given to Aida. It was remarkable that
she showed but little surprise at the sight of me.

"Is that you, dear? And you have come to take me home? I am rather
relieved, for I was beginning to get a little frightened I believe.
But--what is it all about? These people have done me no harm."

"No--thank the Lord and we four," said Falkner grimly. "Not yet, but we
were only in the nick of time. There--you evil beast. You can come to
now, as soon as you li