d see the long, gaunt figure of his
host, pottering about down at the lands, and every now and then from the
kitchen at the back of the house, there came to his ears the clear tones
of Hazel's voice endeavouring to convey instruction into the opaque mind
of the yellow-skinned cook. The sounds in no wise interrupted his train
of thought; rather they fitted in with it, for in it the utterer of them
bore her share.

From his pocket he drew forth a letter. This he spread out open before
him, and began to study, not for the first time. It had arrived the
previous evening, and was several days overdue, owing to Hesketh's
erratic postal provisions as set forward above. The writing was not
easily decipherable, and the contents, well--they were commonplace on
the surface, but beneath, to one well acquainted with the writer,
meaning enough could be read. Now Harley Greenoak and the Commandant of
the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police were very old friends indeed.

There was restlessness on and beyond the border. The Transkeian tribes
needed watching, and some careful handling, and the Police might have
work cut out for them. And, by-the-by, where was Greenoak now, and what
was he doing; because if nothing in particular, added the writer, why
shouldn't he come up to the border and stay with him a bit, and have
some talks over old times?

Such was the gist of the letter, but its recipient read deeper than
that. Few men understood natives and their ways more thoroughly than
himself, few men were as well known to and as thoroughly trusted by
them, and none better. He foresaw a possibility of usefulness, of great
usefulness; and when such was the case, it must be a very grave
impediment indeed that Harley Greenoak would allow to stand in his way.

Hazel Brandon had not exaggerated in her estimate of his character; and
time after time his natural gifts had found for him the opportunity of
being of service to his friends--often to the saving of life--and that
without hope or thought of reward. And here stood forth another such
opportunity; but--how would it fit in with the charge he had undertaken?
As it happened it would so fit in.

Every day of late he had been growing more anxious; every day he had
seen reason for desiring to get Dick Selmes away from Haakdoornfontein.
Every day seemed to draw the two young people together more and more.
This, under other circumstances would have been nothing but
satisfactory, but--what