ble services they had rendered to the community in destroying the
slavers; and this latter course the old gentleman had, fortunately, seen
his way to take.

The old fellow would, however, listen to no word of pleading or of
explanation for either Amaxosa or Barad, and frankly said that he dared
not leave the country until Zero was known to be actually dead, as
otherwise he would himself get into very serious trouble at
head-quarters, and experience an unpleasantly warm time of it on his
return; and he accepted with grateful alacrity Kenyon's offer to assist
with his own party in the search for the missing man--an offer which
Grenville gladly concurred in, saying that none of them could know a
moment's perfect rest until this slippery villain was finally disposed
of.

To our friends, the unexplained absence of Amaxosa and of the Chieftain
of the Stick was, of course, a complete enigma. Only of this one thing
were they sure: that, though both might have either followed or have
preceded the slaver-chief--probably the former--they certainly had not
escaped along with him, but would, on the contrary, never rest until the
rascal's life-blood had washed their spears and clubs.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

A FORCED MARCH.

After arranging with the old Mormon to start out with Grenville and a
scouting party of Zulus at dawn of day, Kenyon turned into the room
jointly occupied by himself and Grenville; but, both being overwrought
by the events of the day, entirely failed to find the sleep they sought,
and finally rose and strolled outside for a moonlight smoke, carefully
taking with them their restored and treasured rifles. Both felt
relatively happy, for the fear of death--and, however brave a man may
be, a violent death is still a fearsome thing--the fear of death, I say,
no longer weighed upon them; and the fact that Leigh had that night
taken a favourable turn, which placed him out of danger, had also lifted
a load of sorrow from the heart of each; and as they strolled quietly
along, the pair talked pleasantly of home and friends, and of an early
start for England.

Just as the twain reached the limits of their stroll, and were about to
turn back and have another try to sleep, Grenville's keen eye detected a
movement in the long grass at his right hand. Throwing forward his
rifle, he was about to fire, when a shrill, peculiar whistle broke upon
the night air, and, dropping the butt of his rifle upon the ground, he
stood