he air; it
vibrated as in waves upon the dense opacity of the darkness, echoing
from the walls of this mysterious vault, for he was conscious of a dual
personality--one side of it without, a witness of the scene conjured up
by the vision; the other still within himself, still entombed and
helpless within the heart of the earth. And then again the whole faded,
into sleep or nirvana.

Once more came awakening. He was no longer in darkness. The rose-light
threw quivering shadows from the objects about the place, and he was no
longer alone. His host--or gaoler stood contemplating him.

"You have had a long sleep, John Ames."

"And strange dreams, too," was the reply, made with a certain
significance. "When I woke up in the dark--"

"Are you sure you did wake up in the dark? Are you sure you did not
dream you woke up?"

"Upon my word, I can't tell. I sometimes think that in these days I can
be sure of nothing."

"Well, you shall hear what will give you something to rejoice over. The
`friend' you were taking care of is safe."

"Safe?"

"Yes. I told you exactly what had happened. And now she will be in
Bulawayo as soon as yourself."

"As soon as myself?"

"Yes, for you will soon be there. You see, I have a use to turn you to.
I have a message for the outside world, and you shall be the means of
transmitting it."

"That will I do, with the greatest of pleasure. But what if I do not
get through? The Matabele seem to be taking to the hills in force, and
it's a long few days to get through from where we are--or were, rather,
should I say, for I'm not at all sure where I am now."

"Quite right, John Ames. You are not. Still you shall get through.
And then, when you rejoin your `friend'--the girl with the very blue
eyes, and the quick lift of the eyelids, and the animated countenance
changing vividly with every expression, and the brown-gold hair--I
suppose you will think life holds for you no greater good?"

"I say, but you seem to have studied her rather closely," was the
rejoinder, with a dry smile. "Anybody would think you knew her."

"I have watched her from far more closely than you dream of, John Ames.
For instance, every step of your way since leaving Shiminya tied up in
his hut, has been known to me and to others too. Your life--both your
lives--have been in my hand throughout, what time you have prided
yourself upon your astuteness in evading pursuit and discovery. The
lives of others h