tter than both of us put together. So _I_ say, let
him take his chance."

"We'll have one more try," said Sandgate.

They had, and it was an exhaustive one. They shook and hustled the
stupefied man, and threw in his face what little water remained in their
bottles. In vain. Stokes merely gave an inarticulate grunt, and
subsided into deep slumber again. Then they tried another plan--that of
placing him on his feet by main force. Still in vain. The drunken man
slid to the ground again, and in their efforts to keep him up both
Sandgate and Dick lost their balance, stumbled, and fell with him.

Before they could rise several pairs of muscular hands had gripped each
of them, and bulky forms pressed them down. So effectually were they
pinioned that they could not even reach their revolvers, which were
promptly reft from them. The little hollow which was their
resting-place was swarming with Kafirs, who had stolen upon them like
snakes what time their attention was taken up endeavouring to restore
consciousness to Stokes; even the warning which should have been
conveyed by the alarmed snorting and restiveness of the horses had
escaped them. They were absolutely in the power of these savages, who
had surprised and captured them without giving them an opportunity of
striking a blow in defence of their lives, and, to one of them, of his
trust.

The first thing their captors did was to bind them securely with the
_reims_ cut from their horses' headstalls. Then a hurried consultation
began among them. A man who seemed in authority--a tall, evil-looking
ruffian--issued an order. The unconscious Stokes was seized and roughly
turned over, face uppermost. A moment's examination sufficing to
satisfy them that he was hopelessly drunk, half a dozen assegais were
driven through his body, as coolly as though his murderers were merely
slaughtering a sheep; while his comrades lay sick with honour at the
sight, and justifiably apprehensive as to what their own fate was
destined to be.

They had not long to wait. Under the hurried directions of another man,
a short, thick-set Kafir--not the one in seeming authority--they were
subjected to a quick but exhaustive search, when, of course, the
despatch to the officer commanding at Fort Isiwa came to light.

"This--what it say?" said the short Kafir, in very fair English, tapping
the document, which he held open by one corner.

"Oh, it's merely a letter asking for a few more h