else. I see missie on bit of paper, hang on de wall.
Jonemi he have it in hut where he sleep. He often stand, look at it for
long time."

A soft flush came into Nidia's face, accompanied by a pleased smile.

"And you knew me from that?" she said. Then all her anxiety coming back
upon her--for she had momentarily lost sight of it in the feeling of
safety engendered by this man's appearance and identity--she exclaimed--

"But where is Jonemi? He went out yesterday--not much after midday--and
should have been back by sundown. You must find him, Pukele."

The man uttered some words to himself in his own tongue, which from the
tone were expressive of like anxiety. Then, to her--

"Which way he go?"

She pointed out, as best she could, the way John Ames had proposed to
take. Pukele shook his head.

"No good dat way. Much Matabele dere. 'Spose he fire gun, den Matabele
hear him for sure."

Nidia's face blanched, and she clasped her hands together wildly.

"You don't think they have--killed him?" she said slowly.

In his heart of hearts Pukele thought that nothing was more likely; but
he was not going to say so.

"I tink not," he answered, "Jonemi _nkos'nkulu_. Great master. He
aflaid o' nuffin. Matabele much like him."

"Listen, Pukele," said Nidia, impressively. "You must go and find him."

"But what you do, missis? You be flighten, all alone. Suppose
_Uconde_--bobyaan--he come again, you much flighten? I be away till
sun, him so," pointing to the western horizon.

"I'll be frightened of nothing," she answered emphatically. "Leave me
one of your long assegais, and go. Even if you have to be away all
night, don't come back. I'll get through it somehow. But--find
Jonemi."

With many injunctions to her not to wander far from this spot, where to
hide in the event of any Matabele chancing to pass that way, and
promising to be back by sundown, Pukele took his departure. Once more
Nidia was alone. This time, however, loneliness in itself no longer
oppressed her. Intense anxiety on behalf of another precluded all
thought of self.

True to his promise Pukele returned at sundown, and he had learned
something. Jonemi had fallen in with the Matabele, even as he had
expected. He had talked with the indunas, and having bidden farewell
had walked away. That was about the same time last evening. But Pukele
said nothing of the subsequent and stealthy pursuit, and the plunge from
the height, for t