as a Civil
servant, had perforce taken no active part in the subsequent operations,
but indirectly, ever at his post during that wearing anxious time he had
borne his share in it by smoothing down many a difficulty--in the matter
of facilitating supplies, and so forth, for those who had; so much so
that his superiors were led to re-consider their first impressions to
the effect that he had rather muddled the situation in the matter of
Babatyana. Anyhow, here he was, still at Kwabulazi, and with him the
faithful Prior.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Please--one man want to see master. He say he Zulu nigger."

The interruption came from Thornhill's Indian cook. There was a laugh,
and Hyland fairly roared.

"I'll swear he never said that, Ramasam," said the latter, "Who is he?"

But before the other could answer a tall figure strode up and halted in
front of them, uttering a sonorous hail.

"_Whau! Manamandhla_!" cried Hyland. "This is good, good to meet again
here, for I think the last time we looked on each other's faces was
among the rocks and bushes of the Mome. Here is _tywala_ that I don't
suppose _you_ ever drank before," creaming up a large tumbler with
champagne, and handing it to the new arrival.

"That have I never, Ugwala," said the Zulu with a smile, after a good
pull at the sparkling beverage. "How a man--an impi--could fight if
doctored with such _muti_ as this, say in the Nkandhla!"

There was a humorous twinkle in the speaker's eyes, the point of the
allusion being that he and Hyland had twice met in battle face to face,
but the assegai of the one and the revolver of the other had
simultaneously turned upon another enemy.

"We'll have no end of yarns now from the other side," went on Hyland.
Then to the Zulu. "I was saying Manamandhla, this is a good day to have
arrived on--Christmas Day--but then, you don't know what that is."

"I have heard U 'Jobo tell the people some story about it--" was the
answer.

"U 'Jobo!" cried Hyland, "_Whau_! U 'Jobo! It will be a long time
before he tells `the people' any more of his stories--_impela_!"

"He's a considerable swine and deserves all he's got," said Elvesdon.
"Still I'm glad I was able to help the poor devil a little. After all
he did try to warn us."

For the Rev Job Magwegwe had fallen upon evil days. He had been
arrested at an early stage of the rebellion, and tried, on several
charges