ed interest.

"The Ba-gcatya? No. These are the Inswani; they of whom we were
talking just lately."

"What of Mushad, Kumbelwa? Have they killed him?"

"He is unhurt. But I think the death he intended for yourselves,
_Amakosi_, is sweet sleep by the side of that which the father of this
people is keeping for him. Yonder he sits."

Rising, though with difficulty, in the cramped condition of their limbs,
the two, together with Somala, looked around for their enemy. The Arab
had accepted their rescue with the same philosophy as that wherewith he
had met his bonds. "It was written so. God is great," had been his
sole comment.

In the centre of the erewhile camp they found the man they sought. The
terrible slaver chief lay as securely bound as they themselves had so
lately been. With him, too, and equally helpless, were about three
score of his clansmen. They were the sole survivors of the massacre,
and the site of the camp was literally piled with hacked and mangled
corpses. Barbarous as had been their own treatment at the hands of this
ruthless desperado, the three Englishmen could not but shudder over the
fate in store for him and those who had been taken alive with him. To
that end alone had they been spared, for such had been the orders of the
King.

"_Ya Allah_!" exclaimed Mushad, his keen eyes seeming to burn, as he
glared up at his late captives. "Fate is strange, yet be not in a hurry
to triumph, ye dogs, for it may change again."

"We have no desire to triumph over you, Mushad," said Haviland. "That
would be the part of a coward, and I hardly think that even you would
name us that."

The Arab scowled savagely and relapsed into silence, and they left him.
When Kumbelwa asked them about the doctor they felt almost ashamed of
how the elation, attendant upon their own unexpected deliverance, had
sent their friend's memory into the background. Yet were they destined
to miss him at every hour of the day.

"He died like a brave man, Kumbelwa," had answered Haviland. "And now,
what of ourselves; and how did you escape and come so opportunely to our
aid?"

Then Kumbelwa sat down, and began to take snuff.

"We had a right good fight up there, _Nkose_, was it not so? But I knew
what would be the end of it, for did not you yourself say, `What can one
buffalo bull do against a hundred dogs?' So I cut my way through
Mushad's people and made for the open, and well I knew that none there
could out