across the silent land. But there was no sign of the returning
herd of cattle, of which Ujojo was in charge. It was significant, too,
that no sign of a native servant was visible among the huts since the
time that Peters had been chased in. Ujojo had, of course, run off the
cattle as his share of the spoil. The few calves in the kraal were
bellowing impatiently for their defaulting mothers, and some fowls were
clucking and scratching about. In a few minutes it would be quite dark.

"Ready, Ancram?" said Peters.

"Ye-es. But--who's going to fetch the horses?"

"Nobody," said Lamont briskly. "We travel per Shanks his mare."

"But--what'll Fullerton say? I borrowed a horse from him."

"Then he'll lose it. Why, if anyone tried to get out the horses he'd
make such a devil of a row over it that our scheme would be blown upon
right there. And they wouldn't funk rushing us in the dark, when we
couldn't see to shoot straight. Now then--got your gun and cartridges?
That's right. Out of that window, and stick hard to Peters. For your
life walk quietly and don't let a sound be heard. I'm going to set the
trap."

But Peters protested this was his job--protesting, however, to deaf
ears.

"Well then, for God's sake, Lamont, be careful," he whispered earnestly.

For all they had primed him liberally with `Dutch courage' Ancram's
heart sank into his boots, as he found himself in the fresh, cool night
air, and realised that anything over a hundred savages lurked within
hardly more than three times that number of yards of him, thirsting for
his blood. No need to enjoin caution upon him. He stepped as though
walking on hot bricks. Suddenly he gave a violent start, and some
special extension of the mercy of Providence alone restrained him from
blazing off his gun. For he felt, rather than heard, stealthy footsteps
behind him. Then the merest whisper breathed through the darkness.

"It's all right. I've done it. Now let's get on."

And Ancram's knees tottered under him in the revulsion of feeling. No
murderous savage was this, stealing up to transfix him in the darkness.
It was only that they had been joined by Lamont.

"_Whau_! it is near the time," whispered Jabula, a fighting induna of
the old Insukamini regiment. "It will never be darker than this, and
these fools will be asleep by now. They believe we have gone away."

"Not yet, not yet," cautioned another man of equal rank. "When they
have drunk a