ke."

This to the fellow whom Jan Boom had first stunned and whom he had just
finished tying up in the most masterly manner. The Xosa had effected
the same process with the third, under cover of Kendrew's pistol.

"Don't look round, Aida," I said. "There's a sight it'll be as well for
you not to see. In fact I'll take you away as soon as Jan Boom is ready
to show us the way out."

But Jan Boom was apparently not ready. He stood glaring down upon the
prostrate and unconscious witch doctor with an expression of vindictive
hatred upon his countenance that was positively devilish.

"Not killed," he muttered in his own tongue. "No--no--not killed. That
were too sweet and easy for him."

"Ha-ha, Jan," guffawed Falkner. "You were so keen on capturing the
brute alive, and now you've killed him yourself."

"He not dead," answered the Xosa in English. "Zulu nigga's skull damn
hard. He come to directly."

"Well it wasn't much of a scrap anyway," grumbled Falkner. "Are there
any more of them?"

"Only two women up there at the huts," said Aida. "But I don't
understand. They've done me no harm."

"No, exactly. You don't understand, but we do," answered Falkner
grimly. "And, now, by the way, where are the said huts?"

"Up above there. You go by the way you saw me come in. Through that
passage."

Now we saw a narrow passage similar to the one we had entered by. It
seemed to lead upward.

"Quite sure it's all there are?" he said.

"Yes. There are only a couple of huts there, and I don't think there's
any way out, that side. Oh--What is that?"

The words came out in a sort of shriek. As ill luck would have it she
had turned and caught sight of the remains of the other two victims.
She covered her face with her hands.

"Oh take me out of this horrible place. Now I begin to see," and she
shivered all over.

"Be brave now, darling," I whispered. "We will go at once. I didn't
want you to see that, but--it's only a way they have of burying their
dead," I added under a swift inspiration that a lie of that sort was
highly expedient, and even then I don't think she more than half
believed me.

Jan Boom the while, together with Kendrew, had been acting in a
thoroughly practical manner, by way of rendering the situation more
secure. They had tied the three prisoners together by the leg, in
addition to their other bonds, and this was as well, for the pair who
had been stunned were showing signs of retu