is by-play, not understanding one word of
English.

"Will the white men keep their promise if Masheesh comes?"

"Certainly not. He will then be our deliverer, not you, and the rifles
must be his."

"Umhleswa saved you when the knives of his people were about to drink
your blood?" sententiously remarked the savage.

Wyzinski shuddered. "Come, chief," he replied, taking from his belt a
revolver, "send us on our journey, and this shall be yours." Raising
his arm, he fired barrel after barrel into the air, pausing between each
ere he drew the trigger to enhance the effect.

The savage's eyes glistened, and he showed his filed teeth. He doubted
not that Masheesh had been sent to bring down the Matabele warriors upon
him, in which case he should lose the promised reward.

The thought swayed him; the sight of the revolver finished the matter.

Slowly rising, he walked away several paces, and the missionary's heart
beat quickly, for all seemed lost. Turning, he pointed to the sky.
"When the moon rises yonder, and my people are buried in sleep, let the
white men be ready. Umhleswa does not lie," he said, moving away.

Hardly had he gone a dozen paces, when he again paused, hesitated, and
once more returned.

"The rifles are for my braves," he said, again speaking slowly; "the
small gun," pointing to the revolver, "is for Umhleswa. Will the chief
give it now?"

Wyzinski hesitated, and for a few moments seemed plunged in thought.

"Take it," he said at length frankly, as he placed the coveted weapon in
the hands of the savage. "Take it, but remember that at a chief's belt
two such weapons should hang; the second will be yours when we reach the
Zambesi."

Umhleswa looked the speaker full in the face, slowly nodding his head
three times, then once more pointing to the sky.

"Let my white brethren be ready when the moon rises," he said, as he
stalked away proudly; perhaps the only native in that part of the
country possessed of a revolver.

"Do you think he will keep his word, Wyzinski?" asked Hughes, when the
conversation was translated to him.

"He is sure to do so," replied the missionary, "simply because it is his
interest."

"Then the best thing we can do is to be in readiness. There are many
things we must leave behind," returned Hughes. "The moon will rise in
two hours."

Entering the hut once more, and as they fervently hoped for the last
time, they set about their preparations, no easy task, w