with
a roughly run-up stable constituted the prospectors' camp on the
Mihlungwana River.

"Well, spit it out, then, if it's worth having," returned the other,
with a light laugh. He was a tall, well-built young fellow, bronzed
with the healthy, open-air life.

"Man, but there's no that hurry," said the first speaker, with a twinkle
in his eyes. "First of all, what's the news Grey Town way?"

"There you are, with your North Country tricks, Robson, answering one
question with another. Well, both our news'll keep till scoff-time. I
suppose it's nearly ready, anyway I hope so, for I want it badly, I can
tell you."

The other smiled to himself. He thought his partner would not be quite
so placid if he really knew what there was to impart. There was a
pleasant odour of frying on the evening air. The sun had just gone
down, and the fading beams still lingered on the green, rounded tops of
the Mihlungwana hills. The native boys, a little distance off, were
keeping up a low hum of conversation round their fire, one being
occupied in frying steaks upon that of their masters'. The new arrival
was splashing his head and face in a camp basin.

"Well, what _is_ the news?" he said, coming forward, vigorously rubbing
his head with a towel.

"Ay; you said yourself it'd keep till scoff-time, and I'm going to take
you at your word, lad. But, buck up. It's nearly ready."

Soon the two were discussing supper with the appetite engendered by a
healthy, open-air life. Then Robson remarked--

"What would you say to Ben Halse and his girl being at Ezulwini?"

"No, by Jove! Are they really, though?"

"Well, the night before last they slept at Malimati, so they'll be at
Ezulwini now, won't they?" And the speaker laughed to himself, as he
noticed the start and eagerness of tone on the part of his younger
companion. The latter relapsed into unwonted silence.

"Ay, he's a good chap, Ben. You'll like to be seeing him again, I'm
thinking."

"Yes--yes, of course. A thundering good chap, as you say. I'd rather
like to see him again."

"_Him_?" drily.

"Of course. Didn't he get me out of a jolly big mess, when I'd already
captured a bang on the head from an infernal nigger's kerrie, and herd
me back to life?"

"Ay; but now I think of it, I believe the boy said it was only him who
was going to Ezulwini. Ay, I'm sure I must have made a mistake when I
said it was both of them."

There was a moment of chapfallen sile