quickly and straight. I taught her."

Elvesdon was on the point of observing that she was not provided with
that opportune weapon at the critical moment of a few days previous, but
an instinctive warning that it might seem a little too much like taking
the other to task caused him to refrain. But he said:

"What of that swaggering impudent swine we were talking about?
Supposing he were to pay your place a visit in your absence?"

"There are four great _kwai_ dogs who'd pull down the devil himself at a
word from either of us--you saw them, Elvesdon. As an alternative Edala
would drill him through and through--with no toy pistol, mind you, but
real business-like lead, if he made the slightest act of aggression.
Besides, a Zulu from beyond the river, and a head-ringed one at that,
wouldn't. So, you see, she's pretty safe."

"Oh, he's a Zulu from beyond the river, is he?"

"So Tongwana said. And he looked like one."

"And he was carrying assegais?"

"Rather. Two small ones and a big _umkonto_. I chaffed him, gave him
royal _sibongo_, and it made him mad. You know, Elvesdon, how these
chaps hate being chaffed."

"Of course. But I think I'll have this one looked after. Anyway he's
no business cutting about with assegais. I don't want to arrest him
though, if it can possibly be avoided. That sort of thing only
irritates the others, and does no good, unless of course you can prove
anything distinctly against them; which, just now, you hardly ever can."
Then, raising his voice, "_Wa, Teliso_!"

In obedience to the shout a man came forward, emerging from behind the
Court house. He was a native detective attached to the magistracy.
Saluting, he stood and awaited orders.

Then those three--the two white men seated on the steps of the stoep--
held a quarter of an hour's conference, speaking rapidly, and in the
vernacular. Teliso thought he knew the stranger. His name? No, that
he could not say--as a matter of fact he knew it perfectly. He might be
able to find it out--given every facility. Was he from beyond the
border, and if so who was his chief? Of this too, Teliso professed
ignorance, though he could find out, given time and every facility.
Here likewise, he was in a position to give perfectly correct answers
then and there, but Teliso was in his humble way a Government official,
and thoroughly understood the art of "magnifying his office." He was
not going to adopt any such undignified course of