in one direction, where a faint glow brought into relief the
V-shaped scarp of converging slopes, constituting, as it were, a portal
to the country lying beyond. Hence sounds were borne, distant but
indescribably weird. But the Police were accustomed to such by this
time. There was war-dancing going on in the Gudhluka Reserve.

We said that the camp was fast asleep. Dick Selmes constituted an
exception. Lying on his blanket outside one of the huts--he preferred
to sleep in the open for the sake of freshness--he was planning out an
extraordinarily mad scheme. Why should he not steal out, make his way
over to Vunisa's location, and witness the fun? It would be a chance he
might never get again. As for the risk, old Chambers was probably
exaggerating. Even if he were discovered, they wouldn't hurt one man
all alone. He would just give them tobacco and tell them to go on with
the programme; and, acting on this idea, he rose quietly and stole out
of the camp.

"Halt! Who goes there?"

Hang it! He had forgotten the confounded sentry.

"Oh, it's all right, old man," he answered genially. "It's only me, and
I'm taking a walk. Here, fill your pipe, I'll be back soon," putting a
coin into the man's hand.

Trooper Carter was not one of the best men in the Force, and F.A.M.
Police pay was none too liberal in those days. The weight of a
sovereign felt good.

"All right, sir. Don't be too long, though."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

THE TICKING OF A WATCH.

Dick's spirits rose immeasurably as he found himself clear away, with
night and the open veldt around him. He was in the pink of hard
training, consequently not long did it take to cover the six or seven
miles that lay between the Police camp and Vunisa's location.

The Tsolo River rippled silvery across his way, reflecting the stars.
Cautiously he forded it, the water scarcely above his ankles, but his
heart in his mouth lest he should make any undue splash or cause a
rattle of stones. But the din in front had now become so near and
deafening that it would have drowned such fifty times over.

He was through the defile now, which was not so narrow as it looked. In
front a great red glow as of numerous fires, and all his pulses were
a-tingle with excitement and anticipation at the thunder of stamping
feet, the roar of the rhythmical chant. But--how get near enough to see
without being seen?

He glanced around, then upward. The steep slopes were not ver