wa coming towards us," said Wyzinski. "God
grant he may have made arrangements for our journey."

"It is he, indeed," replied the other, as he rose to heap fresh branches
on the fire.

Slowly the chief stalked along, apparently not caring where he went,
stopped opposite the two, and then, as if perceiving them for the first
time, approached and squatted by the fire.

Umhleswa's evil nature was now too well-known, for this seeming
carelessness to dupe them.

"Have my white brethren all they can want?" he asked.

"No, chief, we ask the fulfilment of our contract, namely, an escort as
far as the Zambesi."

"My braves are badly armed, and may be unable to protect you. Will the
white men give their rifles now?"

The treacherous nature of the request was too evident for the veriest
tyro to fall into the trap. To give up their means of protection, and
at the same time the only ransom they had to offer, would have been an
act of folly, "No, chief, we will not," replied Wyzinski, a silence
following on his words. Suddenly an idea struck him. What if he were
to utilise Masheesh's absence? It could not possibly do any harm, and
it might do good.

"Will Umhleswa wait until the Matabele chief comes with Mozelkatse's
warriors to serve us as an escort. He has been gone many days and
should be on his return?" he asked.

The wily savage started, fidgeting as he sat. "It is a long journey
across the Tati," he replied.

"The Tati, chief?" asked Wyzinski, remembering at once that Masheesh had
spoken of that river.

"Yes, the Tati, where the yellow gold is found, which the Bamangwato now
claim," replied the savage, pointing with his hand. "It lies yonder,
between those hills of the Matopo and the more distant Zouga mountains."

"And who owns the land?" inquired Wyzinski.

"The great chief Machin calls it his," was the answer, "and Mozelkatse
claims it as his, too."

"You see, Hughes, how all tallies. Beyond those mountain somewhere near
the sources of the Limpopo, there exist gold fields, and these rivers
which Umhleswa names run into the Limpopo. Here, between those gold
fields and the coast, were built the cities of the gold seekers of
Solomon. We have trod their streets, and yonder stream, which Masheesh
truly named Auro, took their riches to the port."

"The deuce take your ruins, Wyzinski!" said Hughes. "Do try to get us
out of the scrape we are in. Humour the scoundrel."

Umhleswa seemed uneasy at th