se the climb rather
froze Lucy off--and I didn't bother to come alone. Do you know I think
this country makes people very lazy."

"Oh yes. There's a steaminess about it that gets on to one's energies
somehow. It'll infect you too when you've been out here a little
longer."

"Now don't talk down to me, Mr Lamont. I feel quite an old pioneer. I
came up here during the war, you know."

"Yes, yes. Just over two years ago."

"Well, you needn't be so supercilious. Especially as you don't seem to
have been over-successful yourself this morning."

"Successful? Oh, I see," following her glance to the magazine rifle he
carried. "No. Game is scarce since the rinderpest, and especially
right near Gandela, like this."

"Look what I found just now, in the bush, before I got to the top here,"
she said. "It must be some sort of native ornament."

She held out to him two white cow-tails, fastened to a kind of bracelet
of twisted sinew.

"Yes, it is. Very much of a native ornament."

The tone was dry, and--she thought--rather curious. She went on--

"I have more than one grievance against you, Mr Lamont. First of all,
why didn't you come in and see us last night? We had quite a number of
men dropping in."

"All the more reason why I shouldn't, isn't it? Too much of a crowd,
you know."

"No, I don't. We can never have too much of a crowd of our friends."

He laughed--again, she thought, strangely.

"That's novel doctrine to me, anyway," he said. "I was always under the
impression one could--and very much so. But I don't think your
brother-in-law likes me. Isn't that good enough excuse?"

"No, it isn't. Dick doesn't constitute the whole establishment. But,
here is another thing. I own I've been dying of curiosity over it ever
since. Why was it of so much importance that you should spend the rest
of the day with that snuffy old savage? You were sticking to him closer
than a brother. In fact you were at each other's elbow all the time.
More than one noticed it."

"Oh, did they?" and here she noticed a touch of concern in his tone.
Then, as if he had come to some sudden resolution, "I believe you have
good nerves, Miss Vidal?"

"Yes," wonderingly.

"Well, get Fullerton to take, or send, you and your sister into Buluwayo
without further delay."

Now Clare wondered indeed.

"Why?" she said simply.

"Yes, that's a fair question. But if I explain, will you undertake not
to get panic-stricken