n get anything out of them, Kendrew," I said.
"Manvers won't mind."

But Inspector Manvers did mind--at first. Then he agreed. They would
be started off for the Police Camp that night; however, as they were
here we could talk to them.

We might just as well have saved ourselves the trouble. Ivondwe, who
had been kept apart from the others, smiled sweetly and wondered what
all the bother was about. He could not imagine why he had been seized
and tied up. However that would soon come right. Government was his
father, but it had made a mistake. However he, as its child, could not
complain even if his father had made a mistake. It would all come
right.

The witch doctor simply refused to speak at all, but the young men
jeered. One of these I seemed to recognise.

"Surely I have seen thee before?" I said. "Where?"

"_Kwa 'Sipanga_?"

"I remember. Atyisayo is thy name. `Hot water.' And I warned thee not
to get into any more hot water--as the whites say."

He laughed at this--but evilly, and no further word could I get out of
either of them.

But if they would reveal nothing there was another who would, and that
was Jan Boom. Him I had refrained from questioning until we should be
all quiet again.

The police, with the exception of three men, who had been detailed to
remain on the spot and keep their eyes and ears open, started off that
same evening with their prisoners. Later, Jan Boom came to the house
and gave me to understand he had something to tell me. The family had
just gone to bed, and Kendrew and I were sitting out on the stoep
smoking a last pipe.

"_Nkose_, the time has now come," he said, "to tell you what will sound
strange to your ears. I would not tell it before, no, not till the
_Amapolise_ had gone. The _Amapolise_ are too fond of asking many
questions--foolish questions--asking them, too, as if they thought you
were trying to throw sand in their eyes when all the time you are trying
to help them. Now is that encouraging to one who would help them?"

I readily admitted that it was not.

"So now, _Nkose_, if you will come forth with me where we shall not be
heard--yes, the nephew of Nyamaki may come, too--for my tale is not for
all ears, you shall hear it."

We needed no second invitation. As we followed him I could not but call
to mind, in deep and thankful contrast, his revelation of two nights
ago--made in the same way and on the same spot.

"You will have heard, _Ama