but if you were to warn the
people at Skrine's Store, or any other whites you come across, that if
they keep their eyes open for the next few weeks, and take care not to
run short of cartridges--why, they won't be doing the wrong thing. You
know I've always said we should have more trouble up here, and have been
jeered at as a funkstick. But I've just learnt something that tells me
that that trouble is a great deal nearer than we think; in fact, right
on us."

"What? Here--at this kraal we've just left?" said the priest,
astonished and startled.

"Perhaps. But you'd better not give me as your authority or the silly
fools will take no notice of it, and get all their silly throats slit.
You can give out that you've every reason to know that mischiefs
brewing--and by Jove, you have! you may take it from me, Father. Well,
good-bye. I've been very glad of your company."

"Indeed, and I have been very glad of yours. I will bear in mind your
warning, Mr Lamont, and I hope we may meet again."

They were to meet again, but under what circumstances either of them
little dreamed.

No man living owned a cooler brain and less excitable nature than Piers
Lamont, yet as he rode leisurely on he was conscious of an element of
excitement entering into his scheme. He alone would avert the impending
horror, and the means he had already determined on. That he might fail
never entered into his calculations.

But on arrival at his farm, he met with the first check. His spare
horse, which he had lent Ancram to ride into Gandela with, was not
there. He had sent Zingela in for it before starting on his recent
trip. Both should have been back the day before yesterday, but there
was no sign of either. This did not look promising. The boy might have
taken the horse and gone over to the enemy. There came out to receive
him an elderly Matabele, whose business it was to look after the cattle
and whom he reckoned trustworthy.

"Zingela should have been back by now, Ujojo," he said.

The man agreed, suggesting however that perhaps the strange _Inkosi_
might have wanted to use the horse longer. Lamont frowned.

"I want to go into Gandela for the races to-morrow," he said. "And
there isn't a horse on the place, and this one I've just brought in is
beginning to go lame. Well, take the saddle off him and give him a good
feed, Ujojo. I shall have to ride him, lame and all, if the other
doesn't turn up by this evening."

Ujojo