to
shoot."

So they started, slipping through the wet wood like shadows. For ten
minutes or more they crept on thus towards the dark line of cliff, Zinti
going first and feeling the way with his fingers, till presently he
halted.

"Hist!" he whispered. "I smell people."

As he spoke, they heard a sound like to that of someone sliding down
rocks. Then a man challenged, saying, "Who passes from the krantz?" and
a woman's voice answered, "It is I, Asika, the wife of Bull-Head." "I
hear you," answered the man. "Now tell me, Asika, what happens yonder."

"What happens? How do I know what happens?" she answered crossly. "About
sunset Bull-Head brought home his new wife, a white chieftainess, for
whom we built the hut yonder; but the fashions of marriage among these
white people must be strange indeed, for this one came to her husband,
her feet bound, and with a face like to the face of a dead woman, the
eyes set wide, and the lips parted. Yes, and they blindfolded her in the
wood there and carried her through this hole in the rock down to the hut
where she is shut in."

"I know something of this matter," answered the man; "the white lady is
no willing wife to Bull-Head, for he killed her husband and took her by
force. Yes, yes, I know, for my uncle was one of those with him when the
deed was done, and he told me something of it just now."

"An evil deed," said Asika, "and one that will bring bad luck upon all
of us; but then, Bull-Head, our chief, is an evil man. Oh! I know it who
am of the number of his Kaffir wives. Say, friend," she went on, "will
you walk a little way with me, as far as the first huts of the kraal,
for there are ghosts in the wood, and I fear to pass it alone at night."

"I dare not, Asika," he answered, "for I am set here on guard."

"Have no fear, friend, the chief is within, seeing to the comfort of his
new wife."

"Well, I will come with you a little way if you wish it, but I must
be back immediately," he said, and the listeners heard them walk off
together.

"Now, Zinti," whispered Sihamba, "lead me through the hole in the rock."

So he took her by the hand and felt along the face of the cliff till he
found the bush which covered the entrance. To this he climbed, dragging
her after him, and presently they were in the secret krantz.

"We have found our way into the spider's nest," muttered Zinti, who grew
afraid; "but say, lady, how shall we find our way out of it?"

"Lead on and leav