ad existed between them almost from the very first had
deepened now into the most perfect of affinity and trust. Again and
again Alaric Denham blessed the chance that had brought him into the
wilderness to find this pearl of great price--the one woman in the whole
world who seemed born for him, who would stand by him even if the whole
world were against him--and there might occur the opportunity of putting
even this test upon her, but that he did not then foresee. Long days
out together, in the sombre forest, or exploring wild, craggy heights in
the clear, exhilarating mountain air; and every one of those days seemed
far too short, and never was there the slightest sign of interest
flagging between them. He told her more about himself and his life, but
there was still that one thing he did not tell her. Yet why should he?
The load was thrown off, and would remain buried in mystery for ever.
Surely this strange, wild country had brought him relief and happiness
beyond measure.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

One day Verna said--

"Let's ride over and pay a surprise visit to Sapazani this afternoon,
father. We promised to show him to Alaric, you know, and he hasn't been
here for a long time."

"All right. But how d'you know he's at home?"

"I got it from some of the people this morning. He has been away a long
time, but he's back now."

"Yes, he has," said the trader meaningly. "He'll get into trouble if he
doesn't watch it. How about the store, though?"

"Oh, we can lock it up for once in a way. Nobody's likely to come, or
if they do it'll only be for a tenpenny knife. Trade's too dismally
slack for anything just now."

"That's a grand idea," said Denham. "I had begun to think I was never
going to see this `show' chief of yours."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"By Jove! what a beautifully built kraal!" exclaimed Denham, as they
came upon it suddenly, over the lip of the hollow. "Rather different
from those wretched, slovenly-looking affairs you see further down."

"Yes; Sapazani is an intense Conservative," said Ben Halse; "wherefore
he isn't beloved by those in authority. But the old-time kraals were
all built like this one, except in the open country where there was no
bush to make fences of. They used stone walls instead, and still do."

They found the chief sitting in the shade of a dried bullock-skin ju