laying football, I used to notice how towards the end of a game I
might be sore and weary, without a kick in my body; but when I had a
straight job of tackling a man my strength miraculously returned. It
was even so now. I lay on my side, luxuriating in being still, and
slowly a sort of vigour crept back into my limbs. Perhaps a half-hour
of rest was given me before, on the lip of the gully, I saw figures
appear. Looking down I saw several men who had come across from the
opposite side of the valley, scrambling up the stream. I got to my
feet, with Colin bristling beside me, and awaited them with the
stiffest face I could muster.

As I expected, they were Machudi's men. I recognized them by the red
ochre in their hair and their copper-wire necklets. Big fellows they
were, long-legged and deep in the chest, the true breed of
mountaineers. I admired their light tread on the slippery rock. It
was hopeless to think of evading such men in their own hills.

The men from the side joined the men in front, and they stood looking
at me from about twelve yards off. They were armed only with
knobkerries, and very clearly were no part of Laputa's army. This made
their errand plain to me.

'Halt!' I said in Kaffir, as one of them made a hesitating step to
advance. 'Who are you and what do you seek?'

There was no answer, but they looked at me curiously. Then one made a
motion with his stick. Colin gave a growl, and would have been on him
if I had not kept a hand on his collar. The rash man drew back, and all
stood stiff and perplexed.

'Keep your hands by your side,' I said, 'or the dog, who has a devil,
will devour you. One of you speak for the rest and tell me your
purpose.'

For a moment I had a wild notion that they might be friends, some of
Arcoll's scouts, and out to help me. But the first words shattered the
fancy.

'We are sent by Inkulu,' the biggest of them said. 'He bade us bring
you to him.'

'And what if I refuse to go?'

'Then, Baas, we must take you to him. We are under the vow of the
Snake.'

'Vow of fiddlestick!' I cried. 'Who do you think is the bigger chief,
the Inkulu or Ratitswan? I tell you Ratitswan is now driving Inkulu
before him as a wind drives rotten leaves. It will be well for you,
men of Machudi, to make peace with Ratitswan and take me to him on the
Berg. If you bring me to him, I and he will reward you; but if you do
Inkulu's bidding you will soon be hunted like buck o