s; the only course still open to him appearing to be that
of "masterly inactivity." This would, at all events, leave time for
events to shape themselves, and afford him an opportunity of regulating
his conduct in accordance therewith; and this course he accordingly
determined to pursue; at the same time issuing the most imperative
orders that the prisoners were to be treated with the utmost courtesy
and consideration consistent with their safe-keeping.

In accordance with these orders, the prisoners found that, after the
second day of their seizure, they had very little of which to complain
beyond the actual loss of their liberty. They were abundantly supplied
with provisions of all kinds within the resources of the village; the
four young women originally detailed to watch over them during their
drugged slumber were permanently appointed to attend upon them, do their
cooking, keep their hut clean, and so on; and they were allowed to take
unrestricted exercise within the bounds of the compound. Their
attendants and guards were allowed to answer any questions except such
as related to the king's recent attempt to possess himself of their
property; and hints were freely offered to the effect that M'Bongwele
was most anxious to secure their friendship, and would gladly afford
them an audience whenever they might desire it. But they had no
intention whatever of seeking an audience with the king; they had a very
shrewd suspicion of what had actually taken place; and having by this
time formed a tolerably accurate estimate of the royal character, they
felt convinced that their only chance of advantageously dealing with
M'Bongwele lay in forcing upon _him_ the character of a suitor to
_them_.

Thus matters stood for nearly a fortnight from the date of their
seizure--Seketulo doing his best to effectually ingratiate himself in
the strangers' favour before venturing to tender his proposed offer of
assistance; and M'Bongwele waiting with daily growing impatience for
overtures from his prisoners--when an event occurred which, simple
though it seemed at the moment, was destined to have an important
bearing on the fortunes of certain other white prisoners then in the
king's power.

It happened thus. The quartette were sitting under the verandah of
their hut one morning, whining away the very last remains of their
carefully hoarded stock of tobacco, when a soft thud, followed by a low
startled cry of pain and terror from one