gasped. "Oh, my God! that
must be the camp which the Zulus attack to-morrow at the dawn."

"What do you say?" Sihamba asked.

In a few words I told her the tale that we had heard from the dying
soldier, and she listened eagerly.

"I fear it must be true," she said, when I had finished, "for while he
was tormenting me Bull-Head let it fall that Dingaan's regiments had
gone hence by order of the King to make war upon the Boers in Natal, but
I took little heed, thinking that he lied.

"Well," she went on after resting a while, "they may be beaten off,
or--stay, in the glade yonder is the great _schimmel_ horse; Bull-Head's
people brought him down for him and I know that hours ago he has been
well fed and watered. If her husband mounts him at sunset, he can be
with the Swallow in the laager well before the dawn, in time to warn
them all. Presently, when he returns from killing Bull-Head, I will show
him the road, for I shall live till sunset. Give me more water, I pray
you."

Now I saw that nothing could be done till Ralph and Jan returned, if
they ever should return, so I prayed of Sihamba to tell me what had
passed, for I saw that she could not live long, and desired to know the
truth before she died. And she told me, with many rests and at no great
length indeed, but very clearly, and as I listened I marvelled more and
more at this Kaffir woman's love, faithfulness, and courage. At last she
came to the tale of how she had disguised Suzanne, and set up the corpse
in her place in the chair of rock.

"Step but a few paces there to the right," she said, "and you will see
it."

I did as she bade me, and then it was that on looking upwards I saw
Ralph and Swart Piet struggling together. They were so high above me
that their shapes seemed small, but I could see the light flashing from
the stabbing steel and I called out to Sihamba what I saw.

"Have no fear, lady," she answered, "it will only end one way." So
indeed it did as has been told, for presently Van Vooren and the corpse
rushed downwards to vanish in the abyss, while Ralph remained standing
by the empty chair of stone.

"It is finished," I said, returning to Sihamba.

"I know it, lady," she answered. "Bull-Head's last cry reached my ears,
and do you give thanks to the Spirit you worship that he is dead. You
wished to know what happened after the Swallow and I parted. Well, I
went and stood by the body on the pinnacle of rock, and there, as I
expected, cam