being only about
four feet six inches in height. Moreover she was in a most shockingly
emaciated condition, and on her back was a close network of scarcely
healed scars, which looked as though they might have resulted from a
most merciless scourging; and she was in a deep swoon, having apparently
exhausted her last particle of strength in the endeavour to reach us.

Taking off my hat, I handed it to Piet, with instructions that he should
fill it and his own at the brook, and return to me with all speed; and
while he was gone I pulled off my jacket and wrapped the frail,
senseless form in it. For I saw at once that this creature had not been
accustomed, like the native women with whom I had thus far come in
contact, to go about in such a state; the rags which still clung to her
attenuated form showed that she habitually wore clothing, and there was
a certain suggestion of refinement in the mould of her features that led
me to the conclusion that she belonged to a race of people having some
claim to be regarded as civilised, in their own peculiar fashion. In
short, she answered in every respect to Mapela's description of the
Bandokolo; and I had gathered, from what he said, that they were in some
sort a civilised race.

It was a long time before we succeeded in restoring the poor creature to
her senses, so long, indeed, that when at length she opened her eyes and
began to look wonderingly about her, the wagon was close at hand. As
soon, therefore, as it was within easy hailing distance I ordered Jan to
outspan, instructed Piet to prepare my cartel, and, when the latter was
ready, carried my patient to it and laid her upon it. Then, having shot
a buck earlier in the day, we started a fire and set to work to prepare
some good strong broth, which, when it was ready, I administered, with
seemingly good effect, for when the woman had partaken of it she spoke a
word or two which sounded like an enquiry. But I could make nothing of
it, nor could Piet, whereupon 'Mfuni came forward, and presently he
contrived to hit upon a kind of Bantu dialect which the woman
understood. And then, when we had satisfied her curiosity as to who we
were, where we came from, and whither we were going, and had assured her
that we were friends and that she might regard herself as perfectly safe
with us, she informed us, in turn, that she was of the Bandokolo, and
that she had been driven out of the country--the border of which was
then one day