pon it, the mare he was riding having been taken by
one of his men whom he had sent to drive in the captured cattle.

The great roan horse, which I rejoiced to see once more, was somewhat
thin, for he had lacked water like the rest, but throughout the siege he
had been well tended by Sihamba and Zinti, and fed with green corn, and
since that morning he had drunk all he would, so that now he was strong
again and fit to run.

"Bring me the _schimmel_," said Sihamba, but there was no need, for the
brute which loved her now as always, had winded her, and coming to where
she lay, put down his head and fondled her with his black lips. Catching
him by the forelock, she drew herself up, and as once before she had
done when he swam the Red Water, she whispered into his ear, and as I
live the beast seemed to listen and understand.

"Not I, not I," she said aloud when she had finished whispering, "not I
but the Englishman, yet, Horse, I think that I shall ride you again,
but it will be beyond the darkness. Stay not, stumble not, for you go
on your last and greatest gallop. Speed like the swallow to save the
Swallow, for so shall you live on when your swift bones are dust. Now,
Englishman, away."

Ralph stooped down and kissed the woman, the angel whom God had sent to
save him and his, and with her dying lips she blessed him and Suzanne,
prophesying to them life and joy. Then he leapt into the saddle, and
with a snort and a quick shake of its head the _schimmel_ plunged
forward in the red glow of the sunset.

Sihamba leaned against the rock and watched the light pass. As its
last ray fell upon her quivering face, she lifted her arms and cried,
"Swallow, I have kept my oath. Swallow, I have served you well and saved
you. Sister, forget me not."

With these words upon her lips Sihamba Ngenyanga died; yes, she and the
daylight died together, while Jan and I stood over her and wept.

CHAPTER XXXV

THE SCHIMMEL'S LAST RACE

Ralph cleared the mountain slope, but before he had covered a mile of
way the darkness began to fall, till presently the night was black. Now
he must ride slowly, steering his path by the stars, and searching the
dim outline of the mountains with his eyes.

But search as he would Ralph could not see the saw-edged rock. He
reached the range indeed, and for hour after hour roamed up and down it,
his heart torn with helpless haste and fears, but it was of no use, so
at last he dismounted, and holding