k face before him.

"Time--a long time--rolled on, and one of those `children,' then a young
man no longer, but ringed, sought out the white man who had saved him
and his brother from death. He found him and--_au_! he himself became
lame for life. For he fell--but he arose again. Then twice after that
he escaped death."

Thornhill's face became rigid. He had entertained an angel unawares and
had, all unconsciously, done his best to transform him into a devil.
Elvesdon, too, began to see through the veil--though not entirely. He
recalled the incident in the kloof when his friend had fired straight at
this man, and but for his timely interruption and that of Edala would
certainly have shot him dead. The Zulu for his part knew exactly how
much to render clear to both and how much to keep dark from one.

"And now Inqoto," he went on. "Thy daughter? What of her?"

"She is safe." There was a rigid eagerness in the tone that by no means
conveyed the assurance intended to be conveyed.

"She is safe," was the answer, and Thornhill sank back with a sigh of
relief. "Hers was one life saved by those of the two children _kwa
Nodwengu_. She, and another, had taken hiding on the tree which grows
out from Sipazi-pazi. Two eyes saw them, many others who sought for
them on the mountain top--ah ah--on the mountain top--did not. She is
safe at Kwabulazi--both are safe."

A great sigh of relief went up from both listeners. They could fill in
all the details. But Thornhill, to his companion's amazement went
through a strange performance. He leaped to his feet, and the next
moment was swinging the narrator to and fro as he sat, with a vice-like
hand upon each shoulder.

"Manamandhla, my _brother_!" he exclaimed in a deep, quivering tone.
"You saved her life like this? You? See now. Before I am killed here
I will write that on paper which shall give you after the trouble is
over what will make you a rich man, and what will protect you if you are
known as having taken part in the trouble. Now--now I see everything.
I did not before."

At first the Zulu looked astonished at this outburst, and then his
magnificent white teeth showed in a gratified smile.

"_Whau_!" he exclaimed. "A life for a life--that is a safe rule. The
life of a woman does not count. The oxen which Inqoto has given to my
brother's son pay for that. But the lives of the two `children'--
warriors in the _ibuto_ known as Ngobamakosi--such are th