mong the lurking
savages, and immediately Dick had placed another rocket into position
and touched it off with similar effect. Utterly panic-stricken now, the
Kafirs thought of nothing but wild flight, and the crashing of their
demoralised retreat through the garden was the most welcome sound the
beleaguered listeners had at one time ever expected to hear again.
Quick as thought Dick slipped out to the front, and applied a light to
the upright rockets, one after another. Band after band of snake-red
flame leapt up into the heavens, bursting with shell-like boom into
beautiful blue and red and golden stars.

"There!" he said, coming back, and choking with laughter, in sheer
reaction, "I believe Jack Kafir thinks the end of the world has come, or
the Police artillery--doesn't matter which. Your idea has been the
saving of this camp, Mrs Waybridge, if he doesn't get over his scare
and come back."

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

"IS IT TOO LATE?"

Waybridge, having delivered his contract stock, had intended staying the
night at Fort Isiwa, but some news which was brought in at that post
decided him to start for home at no longer notice than it took him to
saddle up, and to get there as fast as his steed could carry him.

It was rather late when he clattered into Komgha, but, late as it was,
quite a number of men were astir. There was no help for it. He must
perforce off-saddle if only for a quarter of an hour, after the pace at
which he had pushed his horse, and that all uphill.

"Anything in this news?" he asked eagerly as he gained the stoep at
Pagets and called for a very long brandy and soda.

"Or is it all a yarn?"

"Yarn? Not much. The Gaikas have broken out, and are burning all the
farms within reach. Yours among 'em, I expect, Waybridge."

"Mine among 'em! But, good Lord! man, my people are still there."

The other whistled blankly.

"Didn't they come in?" he said.

"No. We didn't believe in the scare, you see. Devil take that
confounded horse of mine! I shall have to give him a few minutes more,
and then I'll push him along if I kill him. Won't any of you fellows
come with me? Women in danger, you know."

"Rather, I'll go," answered the man he had been talking to. Others
joined, and soon a compact dozen started off to get their horses--if
they could find them, and somebody else's if they couldn't--and whatever
arms they happened to own.

"That you, Waybridge? Yes, it's time you started.