a little, then stood
upright, and, keeping against the dark background of the outer stockade,
was lounging at unconcerned pace back in the direction of his hut,
when--

"Sleep well, brother. _Au_! I think we need it."

He had nearly cannoned against a tall figure which appeared round the
side of a hut. The deep tones he recognised as those of Zwabeka.
Clearly the chief mistook him in the darkness for one of those who had
taken part in the _indaba_. He drawled an assent in a sleepy voice, and
fervently blessed the unknown influence which had caused him to leave
his large-brimmed hat in the hut when he had come forth on his midnight
wandering, and now, with his blanket over his head, he might pass very
well in the darkness for one of themselves, and, indeed, had so passed.
But his trial was not over yet.

As the chief passed on there stepped forth two more figures, lazily
chatting; this time behind him. The thing was too risky. In front of
him yawned the black hole of the doorway of one of the huts, left open,
perhaps, on account of the heat--only it was not hot. Through this he
crept, without a moment's hesitation, as though it were his own
dwelling. Hardly was he within than the two who had been behind him
likewise entered.

He stretched himself on the ground, emitting a forced yawn--very forced.
The others, on their side of the tenement, followed his example. He
could determine, by sounds of light snoring, that the tenement already
contained others before these late arrivals. Soon the latter were
likewise in the Land of Nod.

Lying there in the pitchy darkness Lamont realised that his position was
exciting, to put it mildly. Here he was, in the same hut with two of
the conspirators, and how many others he could, of course, not
determine. The next thing was to get out again. But for that he must
take his time. Hurry would be fatal.

If ever minutes had seemed to him hours, assuredly they did so now. And
with this idea a new source of peril struck him. In the dead silence he
thought to hear the ticking of his watch. What if other ears should
hear it too. He thought to stop it--but how so much as get it open in
the darkness without breaking the glass; and then just one fragment on
the floor of the hut would betray him in the morning. Still, with his
blanket tightly round him, the ticking might not be heard. At last he
reckoned it time to make a move.

It is a mistake to imagine that savages ar