her room,
he proceeded to load up a saddle-bag with a supply of the most
concentrated and therefore portable provisions, sufficient to last him
several days; but, to all appearances, hardly enough to last him for
one.

"You'll find Mantisa at the place arranged, all right," said the
Commandant, naming one of the native detectives. "He's a good runner,
and will bring the news straight and quick--directly you get any to
send. John Voss had better be sent round to warn the farms."

The other nodded, and the two men shook hands. The lights were then
extinguished, for it was just as well that possible watching eyes should
not see Harley Greenoak as he stepped forth into the darkness. And
having saddled up his horse, he started upon his dangerous and
self-sacrificing undertaking alone.

As he rode on through the night, keeping his horse at a walk, his
thoughts were still busy with his plan. He had not told the Commandant
of the expected crossing, and this for more than one reason. First, he
wanted to verify, his information, and this he felt confident of his
ability to do, by going in person among the disaffected Gaikas. His
consummate knowledge of natives and their language, above all of the
_ways_ of their language, would enable him to do this. He could read
them like a book, however much they strove to conceal from him their
real mind. Then he was not altogether without hope that he might be
able, even at the eleventh hour, to persuade them to "sit still." His
personal prestige with them, and influence, were enormous, and while
they would secretly be laughing at any accredited Government official,
to his own words they would listen with unfeigned respect. Again, were
a strong patrol of Police despatched to watch the drifts, it would
defeat its own object. It would be powerless to prevent the projected
incursion, for the Gcaleka emissaries, being aware of its presence, as,
of course, they could not fail to be, would simply melt into twos and
threes, and cross the river at many different points instead of at one.
Further and more important still, it would precipitate the outbreak he
was striving to delay, even if he could not prevent; and such of the
settlers who still remained on their farms would be massacred without
warning. And this was just what he had set himself out to avert, this
strong, brave, experienced man--he alone--single-handed.

But what of himself--of his own life? Did he not value it that