occupants were sound asleep. There was no door, but
only a narrow entrance, across which a naked savage was sleeping,
several others being thrown here and there outside, also fast asleep.
Midnight was long passed, when a noise was heard near the opening, and
the moonlight was for a moment obscured by two bodies passing. Calling
to Wyzinski, the soldier, who slept lightly, seized his pistols, but the
voice of Masheesh was heard, speaking in low tones, as he stepped over
the body of the sleeping sentry, followed by the second figure. It was
not dark, the moon shining brightly outside, and Umhleswa's face and
form was not one to be easily mistaken. He was naked save at the waist,
his body smeared with oil, but wearing no distinctive mark of any kind,
while his broad, flat nose, high cheek-bones, receding forehead, sharp
filed teeth, and shining body, gave him even a more repulsive look than
usual in the faint moonlight. Outside all was quiet save the usual
cries of the jackals and hyenas hovering round the kraal, and the heavy
breathing of the sleeping guard.

Seating himself on some skins, while Masheesh squatted down near the
entrance, Umhleswa spoke.

"Have the white chiefs no fear of death," he asked, "that they sleep
soundly?"

"No," replied the missionary, using the Zulu dialect; "we do not believe
in it at your hands. We were travelling through the land, our safety
insured by Mozelkatse's word. You sent for us and we came, consequently
besides the safeguard of the king of the Matabele we have yours."

"If Mozelkatse's word be scorned," added the Matabele brave, "the land
between the Suave and the Zambesi shall be dyed red with Amatonga blood,
and the assegai of Masheesh shall find the heart of their chief. The
country shall be desert, and the tribe live only in the remembrance of
the past."

"I have not come to the dwelling of the white men to hear this," replied
Umhleswa, scornfully. "Will they promise, by their God, not to go near
the fallen huts if set free?"

Both hesitated, for the desire to explore those ruins was strong in
their minds, and both were willing to risk life to do so.

"We will make Umhleswa rich with presents, we will hunt for him the
elephant and the rhinoceros, if he will not only allow us to see the
ruined huts, but aid us with his men to lay them bare."

The dark eyes of the savage glistened at the thought of the presents,
and he mused for several minutes, the silence being