e
did she rise in his estimation.

"Miss Halse nearly shot a Kafir once in that same store, Mr Denham,"
struck in the hostess, who, while talking to the trader, had taken in
the other conversation.

"Not really?"

"Oh, it was nothing," explained Verna. "A man came in once to trade--
not one of our people, but a stranger. I was alone and he got impudent,
not merely impudent, but violent, began to throw things about, and all
that. So I just gave him a scare shot, you know, a shot that shaved him
near enough to scare him badly. I let him know that the next one would
be nearer still and that I had five more. Then he subsided and became
civil. But--it was nothing."

"Well done! Well done!" cried Denham. "I suppose in those wild parts
you have to know how to take care of yourself." He had noticed, too,
that there was no trace of brag in her narrative: it was utterly
matter-of-fact.

"I've never known any trouble with our people, and I've been among them
the best part of my life," she answered. "This one was a stranger."

"How d'you do, Miss Halse," said Inspector James, who entered at that
moment, "I thought your father wouldn't have left you behind. Well,
Halse, I knew I'd be late, and I am. It's precious hot, though. What's
the latest?"

"Latest? I came here to hear the latest," answered Ben Halse, with a
twinkle in his eyes.

"Oh, of course. If you didn't know what was going on before we did I'd
be--well, astonished."

"No, there's no _indaba_--none fresh, that is, and what there is you
know as well as I do, James."

"Oh, those brutes are hatching no more mischief than usual," grumbled
the latter, who was hot and tired. "How's your friend Sapazani, Halse?"

"Same as before. I'm going to have another drink, James. You cut in--
you, Mr Denham?"

"Don't mind. That sweep's not trustworthy," answered James, meaning not
Denham but Sapazani.

"Is any one on this earth?" returned Ben Halse, while Verna remarked
sweetly--

"Sapazani is a great friend of ours, Mr James."

Denham, the while, listened amused, but said nothing.

"Oh, that's all right, Miss Halse," answered the Inspector. "Meanwhile,
it's a great thing to know who one's friends are."

"Who is Sapazani?" asked Denham, after a little more discussion.

"He's our chief--I mean the big chief near us," explained Verna. "We'll
introduce him to you when you come."

The police officer was a trifle surprised. Denham was going to sta