m. "Be content with this one. Besides, we have got to
get it home."

"So we have, by Jove!" with a glance up at the sun. "Now let me think
of the best way to work. The horses won't stick it near them, I'm
afraid. But this is worth having, and no mistake. They grow larger
than this, though, don't they, Verna?"

"Yes," she answered, with a touch of anxiety. "But they are very rare
and very dangerous. A snake isn't like a lion or anything of that sort.
He's about ten times as quick, and offers no mark for a bullet, and if
you use shot you spoil the skin. No; be content with this one."

"Why, you sworn big-game huntress, you talk with weighty wisdom. Now I
am still debating the difficult problem of how to get this specimen
home."

"_Nkose! Nkosazana_!"

Both started. In their preoccupation they had been totally unaware of
the presence of any third person. They looked up to become aware of the
presence of such, in the person of a tall Zulu, and he Mandevu. The
appearance of the latter caused Denham some vague uneasiness. It seemed
as though this man were dogging him. The next words were not calculated
to allay the feeling.

"That was a great snake," he said, "and well killed. _Whau_! when last
I saw a snake bewitched like that it was not so well killed, it was cut
nearly in half. _Nkose_ must be _isanusi_ to have the power of keeping
a snake--two snakes--still in such wise."

Verna translated this for Denham's benefit, and translated it well, word
for word. Inwardly it puzzled her a little, for it seemed to convey
some hidden meaning. But to her companion the words were disquieting,
to say the least of it, and more than ever confirmed the idea that the
Zulu was following him from place to place with a purpose.

"Tell him, Verna," he said, "that I want this taken home. If he has any
boys he can fetch them along, and they shall be well paid, nor will I
forget himself."

This was put. Mandevu thought he could find the boys--there was a kraal
a little way off. He would see. This Verna knew to be absolutely
untrue, but Denham was delighted. He presented Mandevu with a
half-sovereign, intimating that there was more where that came from when
the service required should be accomplished. That worthy strode off
into the forest on the spot.

Verna was rather silent as they sat and waited. That curious
instinctive consciousness of being watched or followed was upon her.
She did not believe that Ma