red, and she repeated the vision to her, or
as much of it as she wished.

Sihamba listened, and when the tale was done she nodded her little head,
saying:

"So even you white people have something of the power which has been
given to us Kaffir witch-doctors from the beginning. Without a doubt
your spirit spoke to the spirit of your husband last night and I am glad
of it, for now, although you are apart from each other, the hearts of
both of you will be rested. Now also I am sure that we must go to my
people and live among them for so long as may be appointed, seeing
that there and nowhere else you and the Baas Kenzie will come together
again."

"I had sooner go back to the stead," sighed Suzanne.

"That cannot be, Swallow, for it is not fated, and for the rest, if you
meet, what does it matter where you meet?"

That morning Suzanne, mounted upon the great _schimmel_, which by now
had almost recovered from his weariness, although he was still somewhat
stiff, and followed by Sihamba and Zinti riding the horse and the
mule, passed up and down before Sigwe's regiments that saluted her as
chieftainess. Then amongst much wailing of women and children, the impi
started northward, Suzanne, preceded only by scouts and a guard to feel
the way, riding in front of it that she might escape the dust raised by
so many feet and the hoofs of the great herd of oxen that were driven
along to serve as food for the soldiers.

For fourteen days' journey they travelled thus, and during that time
nothing of note happened to them, except that twelve men and Sihamba's
brown mule were lost in crossing a flooded river, whereof there were
many in their path. The country through which they passed was populated
by Kaffirs, but these tribes were too small and scattered to attempt to
oppose so large an army, nor did the men of Sigwe do them any mischief
beyond taking such grain and meal as they required for food.

On the fourteenth day, however, they reached the boundary of the
territories of a very powerful tribe of Pondo blood, and here they
halted while messengers were sent forward to the Pondo chief, saying
that with him Sigwe had no quarrel, and asking for a safe-conduct
for the army while passing through his lands. On the third day these
messengers returned, accompanied by an embassy from the Pondo chief,
that after much talk, though to all appearance unwillingly, gave Sigwe
the promise of safe-conduct upon condition that he made a pr