."

"Theft? Thieves?" repeated the Kaffir, in magnificent surprise. "_Au_!
You are joking, _Baas_. Did you not give me money to buy a gun with,
and tell me even where I could most likely get it? My brother Ndimbi
was by, and heard it all. And now you ask for it back again. Nay,
_Baas_, I can't return it, for Ndimbi has it. I owe him nearly all of
it, so as I could not get a gun I thought I had better pay it."

Sonnenberg turned perfectly livid, and fairly gasped for breath. He saw
now how completely he had been done. Tom had not the slightest
intention of returning the money. He detested his master, and now here
was a glorious chance of being even with the latter for many a past
meanness. In all good faith he had intended to make the purchase, and
then depart for the seat of war. But Roden's uncompromising refusal,
and the words he had used in reference to Sonnenberg, had thrown a new
light on the matter. Tom and his brother had talked it over during
their walk home, and had concluded to keep the money, fully assured that
Sonnenberg would never dare to make a stir about it.

And, in fact, it was so. Standing there, mad with helpless wrath, the
shrewd brain of the Jew had already realised that much. If he
prosecuted Tom, the other Kaffir would prove being present when the
money was given, and for what purpose it was given. Roden Musgrave,
too, would testify that the boy had made the proposal to him on the very
night, which would be so far circumstantially corroborative. On his
side he had only Lambert; but although Lambert had been present at the
transaction he understood hardly any Dutch, in which tongue the affair
had been negotiated. Besides, Lambert was weak, and a good bit of an
ass, and under cross-examination might be counted upon to give himself--
to give both of them--away. Again, to substantiate the charge of theft
he would have to show how and when he had missed the money, and what
opportunity the boy had of appropriating it. Tom was known, too, as a
particularly honest and well-conducted boy, while he, Sonnenberg,
laboured under the disadvantage of being a very shady sort of customer.
Moreover, his hatred of Roden Musgrave was well known--and his vows of
vengeance against the latter had been made often and publicly. No, it
would never do. The combination of coincidences would have far too
fishy a look. Besides, the very suspicion of having endeavoured to
supply a native with firearms,