n
below, look like the four fingers and thumb of a man. Also the place
has another name, which means 'where the water springs out of the rock,'
because from between two of the ridges, those that are like the thumb
and first finger, flows a stream which comes from the heart of the
mountain."

"On which side of the mountain are the ridges and the stream?" asked
Ralph in the same unnatural voice.

"Baas, when the sun rises it strikes on them."

Now Ralph swung to and fro like a drunken man, and had I not put my arm
about him I believe that he would have fallen.

"It is the mountain of my vision," he gasped.

"Be not foolish," I answered, for I feared lest when he found that
all this strange resemblance was a chance, the bitterness of his
disappointment might overwhelm him. "Be not foolish, son; are there not
many hills in this great land with ridges on their flanks, and streams
of water running down them?"

Then, as Ralph seemed unable to answer me, I asked of Gaasha:

"Who is the chief of this tribe of yours?"

"He is named Koraanu," he answered, "if he still lives, but a man I met
some months ago told me that he has been dead these two years, and that
she who used to rule us when I was a little child had come back from
the lands whither she had wandered, and is now _Inkoosikaas_ of the
Umpondwana."

"What is the name of this chieftainess?" I asked in the midst of a great
silence.

Gaasha answered at once; that is, after he had taken a pinch of snuff,
but to us it seemed a year before the words crossed his lips.

"Her name, lady," and he sneezed, "is"--and he sneezed again, rocking
himself to and fro. Then slowly wiping away the tears which the snuff
had brought to his eyes with the back of his hand he said, "Ow! this is
the best of snuff, and I thank the Baas for giving it to me."

"Answer," roared Jan, speaking for the first time, and in such a fierce
voice that Gaasha sprang to his feet and began to run away.

"Come back, Gaasha, come back," I called, and he came doubtfully, for
Gaasha was not very brave, and ever since he had wished to shoot him he
trembled even at the sight of Jan. "Be silent, you fool," I whispered to
the latter as the lad drew near, then said aloud, "Now, Gaasha."

"Lady," he answered, "it is indeed as I have told you; the Baas gave me
the snuff a long time ago; he took it out of the ear-boxes of the dead
men at Vetchkop. He gave it to me. I did not steal it. He will say so
himsel