low depression, about half a mile wide,
bordered on either side by rising, bush-clad ground that was scarcely
high enough to be worthy of the name of hills, with a narrow, shallow
rivulet on our right; and we had about decided that the spot where we
had reined up would answer our purpose quite well, when the two dogs,
Thunder and Juno, who had been following quietly enough at our horses'
heels, suddenly ran forward a few paces and then stood pointing,
uttering low, half-yelping, half-whining noises the while, as was their
wont when they were puzzled. For a few moments I could see nothing to
account for their excitement, and I was about to speak to them, when,
looking forward, I suddenly saw something raise itself in the grass,
remain visible for perhaps half a dozen seconds, and then sink down
again. It was about a hundred yards from the spot where we had pulled
up, and from the brief glimpse which I had obtained I almost thought
that, strange as it might be, I had seen a child! To satisfy myself,
therefore, I called to Piet, and, accompanied by the dogs, cantered
forward toward the place where the strange apparition had appeared.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

SOME MARVELS OF THE BANDOKOLO COUNTRY.

Our horses had not advanced more than half a dozen strides when the
strange-looking object again appeared and came stumbling toward us, and
then we saw that it was indeed a human being, apparently a girl of about
twelve years of age, from her stature. The first thing that I
particularly observed was that her skin was a kind of brownish white,
the next that she had a mop of black hair streaming loosely down over
her shoulders; then I saw that she was half-naked, for the single
garment in which she was clad was in such a tattered condition that all
that remained of it was a few fluttering rags. It was evident that the
poor creature was in the very last stages of exhaustion, for she reeled
and staggered as she came toward us with outstretched, appealing arms;
and presently, when we were still a few yards apart, with a low, wailing
cry she fell prone and lay huddled up in a pathetic little heap in the
long grass, while the dogs dashed forward and stood alternately nuzzling
her and looking up to us with plaintive whines. The next instant I
swung out of my saddle, and, bending down, raised the unfortunate
creature in my arms, when I saw, to my amazement, that she was evidently
a full-grown woman, but of very diminutive stature,