nd tortured steinbok. The four Kafirs gather round their
prey.

"_Suka inja_!" ["Get out, dog!"] cries one of them brutally, giving the
white dog a dig in the ribs with the butt-end of his kerrie, and putting
the wretched buck out of its agony by a blow on the head with the same.
The hound, with a snarling yelp, springs away from the carcase, and lies
down beside his fellow. Their flanks are heaving and panting after the
run, and their lolling tongues and glaring eyes turn hungrily toward the
expected prey. Their savage masters, squatted around, are resting after
their exertions, chatting in a deep bass hum. To the concealed
spectator the sight is simply maddening. He judges the time for
swooping down upon the delinquents has arrived.

Were he wise he would elect to leave them alone entirely, and would
withdraw quietly without betraying his presence. He might indeed derive
some modicum of satisfaction by subsequently sjambokking the defaulting
Goniwe for deserting his post, though the wisdom of that act of
consolation may be doubted. But a thoroughly angry man is seldom wise,
and Tom Carhayes forms no exception to the general rule. With a savage
curse he breaks from his cover and rides furiously down upon the
offending group.

But if he imagines his unlooked for arrival is going to strike terror to
the hearts of those daring and impudent poachers, he soon becomes alive
to his mistake. Two of them, including his own herd, are already
standing. The others make no attempt to rise from their careless and
squatting posture. All contemplate him with absolute unconcern, and the
half-concealed and contemptuous grin spread across the broad countenance
of his retainer in no wise tends to allay his fury.

"What the devil are you doing here, Goniwe?" he cries. "Get away back
to your flock at once, or I'll tan your hide to ribbons. Here. Get out
of the light you two--I'm going to shoot that dog--unless you want the
charge through yourselves instead."

This speech, delivered half in Boer Dutch, half in the Xosa language,
has a startling effect. The other two Kafirs spring suddenly to their
feet, and all four close up in a line in front of the speaker, so as to
stand between him and their dogs. Their demeanour is insolent and
threatening to the last degree.

"_Whau 'mlungu_!" ["Ho! white man!"] cries the man whose successful
throw has brought down the quarry--a barbarian of herculean stature and
with an evil,