ms,--they have taken poor Oom
Jan's,--and they have gone on, shouting, to murder elsewhere! I flung
down my machine among the bushes as they came,--I hope they have not
seen it,--and I crouched here between the boulders, with the baby in my
arms, trusting for protection to the colour of my dress, which is just
like the ironstone."

"It is a perfect deception," I answered, admiring her instinctive
cleverness even then. "I never so much as noticed you."

"No, nor the Matabele either, for all their sharp eyes. They passed by
without stopping. I clasped the baby hard, and tried to keep it from
crying--if it had cried, all would have been lost; but they passed just
below, and swept on toward Rozenboom's. I lay still for a while, not
daring to look out. Then I raised myself warily, and tried to listen.
Just at that moment, I heard a horse's hoofs ring out once more. I
couldn't tell, of course, whether it was YOU returning, or one of the
Matabele, left behind by the others. So I crouched again.... Thank God,
you are safe, Hubert!"

All this took a moment to say, or was less said than hinted. "Now, what
must we do?" I cried. "Bolt back again to Salisbury?"

"It is the only thing possible--if my machine is unhurt. They may have
taken it... or ridden over and broken it."

We went down to the spot, and picked it up where it lay, half-concealed
among the brittle, dry scrub of milk-bushes. I examined the bearings
carefully; though there were hoof-marks close by, it had received no
hurt. I blew up the tire, which was somewhat flabby, and went on to
untie my sturdy pony. The moment I looked at her I saw the poor little
brute was wearied out with her two long rides in the sweltering sun. Her
flanks quivered. "It is no use," I cried, patting her, as she turned to
me with appealing eyes that asked for water. "She CAN'T go back as far
as Salisbury; at least, till she has had a feed of corn and a drink.
Even then, it will be rough on her."

"Give her bread," Hilda suggested. "That will hearten her more than
corn. There is plenty in the house; Tant Mettie baked this morning."

I crept in reluctantly to fetch it. I also brought out from the dresser
a few raw eggs, to break into a tumbler and swallow whole; for Hilda
and I needed food almost as sorely as the poor beast herself. There was
something gruesome in thus rummaging about for bread and meat in the
dead woman's cupboard, while she herself lay there on the floor; but one
never r