w-men, took careful note of the circumstance. Strange things
happened. It might serve him in good stead one day.

"The Gcalekas will fight," went on Josane. "Perhaps they are fighting
now. Perhaps the _Baas_ will have some news to bring when he returns
from Komgha. The telegraph is quick, but the voice of the bird in the
air is quicker," he added with a meaning smile, which convinced his
listener that he knew a great deal more than he chose to say.

"The fire stick is even now in the thatch," went on the Kafir, after a
few more puffs at his pipe. "There is a herald from the Great Chief
among the Gaika kraals."

"Hlangani?"

"Hlangani. The Gaikas are listening to his `word,' and are lighting the
war-fires. If he can obtain the ear of Sandili, his work is done.
_Whau_, Ixeshane," he went on, slipping into the familiar name in his
excitement. "You English are very weak people. You ought to arrest
Matanzima, and several others, and send a strong Resident to Sandili,
who should always keep his ear."

"We can't do that, Josane. There are wheels within wheels and a power
behind the throne. Well, we shall see what happens," he went on, rising
as a hint to the other to depart.

He did not choose, for reasons of his own, to ask Josane direct how
imminent the danger might be. To do so would be ever so slightly to
impair his own _prestige_. But in his own judgment he decided that the
sooner they set their affairs in order against the coming storm the
better.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

"AH, LOVE, BUT A DAY!"

Pondering over what the old Kafir had said, Eustace busied himself over
two or three odd jobs. Then, returning to the storeroom, he filled up a
large measure of mealies and went to the house.

"I'm going down to the ostrich camp, Eanswyth. Do you feel inclined to
stroll that far, or are you too tired?"

"Yes and no. I think it will do me good."

Flinging on a wide straw hat she joined him in the doorway. The ostrich
camp was only a couple of hundred yards from the house, and at sight of
them the great birds came shambling down to the fence, the truculent
male having laid aside his aggressive ferocity for the occasion, as he
condescended, with sullen and lordly air, to allow himself to be fed,
though even then the quarrelsome disposition of the creature would find
vent every now and again in a savage hiss, accompanied by a sudden and
treacherous kick aimed at his timid consort whenever the latter vent