began to
feast."
"What did they feast on, Hans, if they took no cattle?" I asked with a
shiver, for I was afraid of I knew not what.
"Baas," answered Hans, turning his head away and looking at the ground,
"they feasted on the children whom they had killed, also on some of the
young women. These tall soldiers are men-eaters, Baas."
At this horrible intelligence I turned faint and felt as though I was
going to fall, but recovering myself, signed to him to go on with his
story.
"They feasted quite nicely, Baas," he continued, "making no noise. Then
some of them slept while others watched, and that went on all night. As
soon as it was dark, but before the moon rose, I slid down the tree and
crept round to the back of the house without being seen or heard, as
I can, Baas. I got into the house by the back door and crawled to
the window of the sitting-room. It was open and peeping through I saw
Sad-Eyes still tied to the seat on the stoep not more than a pace away,
while the girl Janee crouched on the floor at her feet--I think she was
asleep or fainting.
"I made a little noise, like a night-adder hissing, and kept on making
it, till at last Sad-Eyes turned her head. Then I spoke in a very low
whisper, for fear lest I should wake the two guards who were dozing on
either side of her wrapped in their blankets, saying, 'It is I, Hans,
come to help you.' 'You cannot,' she answered, also speaking very low.
'Get to your master and tell him and my father to follow. These men are
called Amahagger and live far away across the river. They are going to
take me to their home, as I understand, to rule them, because they want
a white woman to be a queen over them who have always been ruled by a
certain white queen, against whom they have rebelled. I do not think
they mean to do me any harm, unless perhaps they want to marry me
to their chief, but of this I am not sure from their talk which I
understand badly. Now go, before they catch you.'
"'I think you might get away,' I whispered back. 'I will cut your bonds.
When you are free, slip through the window and I will guide you.'
"'Very well, try it,' she said.
"So I drew my knife and stretched out my arm. But then, Baas, I showed
myself a fool--if the Great Medicine had still been there I might have
known better. I forgot the starlight which shone upon the blade of the
knife. That girl Janee came out of her sleep or swoon, lifted her head
and saw the knife. She screamed once
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