their chief's face, like tigers balked momentarily
of their prey, the warriors paused. And the dull, brooding glare of the
signal fire flashing aloft upon the hilltop fell redly upon that fierce
and threatening sea of figures standing over the prostrate body of their
hated and now helpless enemy. But the word of a Kafir chief is law to
his followers. There was no disputing that decisive mandate.

"Rise, Umlilwane," went on Nteya. "Rise, and go in peace. In the
evening, when the blood is heated, it is not well to provoke strife by
angry words. In the morning, when heads are cool, return here and talk.
If your sheep are here, they shall be restored to you. Now go, while
it is yet safe."

Carhayes, still half-stunned by the violence of his fall, staggered to
his feet.

"If they are here!" he repeated sullenly. "Damn it, they _are_ here!"
he blazed forth in a fresh access of wrath. Then catching the
malevolent glance of Hlangani, and becoming alive to the very sinister
and menacing expression on the countenances of the other Kafirs, even he
began to realise that some degree of prudence was desirable, not to say
essential. "Well, well, it's the old trick again, but I suppose our
turn will come soon," he growled, as he proceeded to mount his horse.

The crowd parted to make way for him, and amid ominous mutterings and an
unpleasantly suggestive shaking of weapons towards him, he rode away as
he had come. None followed him. The chief's eye was upon his receding
figure. The chief's "word" had been given. But even protected by that
safe conduct, he would be wise to put as much space as possible between
himself and that sullen and warlike gathering, and that, too, with the
greatest despatch.

None followed him--at the moment. But Hlangani mixed unperceived among
the crowd, whispering a word here and a word there. And soon, by twos
and threes, a number of armed savages stole silently forth into the
night, moving swiftly upon the retreating horseman's track.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

"ON THE ROCK THEY SCORCH, LIKE A DROP OF FIRE."

"What are they really doing over there, do you suppose, Eustace?" said
Eanswyth anxiously, as they regained the house. The thunder of the wild
war-dance floated across the intervening miles of space, and the misty
glare of many fires luridly outlined the distant mountain slopes. The
position was sufficiently terrifying to any woman alone there save for
one male protector, with hund