, then at a word from her mistress
was silent. But it was enough, for it woke up the guards who glared
about them and threatened Janee with their great spears, also they went
to sleep no more, but began to talk together, though what they said I
could not hear, for I was hiding on the floor of the room. After this,
knowing that I could do no good and might do harm and get myself killed,
I crept out of the house as I had crept in, and crawled back to my
tree."

"Why did you not come to me?" I asked.

"Because I still hoped I might be able to help Sad-Eyes, Baas. Also I
wanted to see what happened, and I knew that I could not bring you here
in time to be any good. Yet it is true I thought of coming though I did
not know the road."

"Perhaps you were right."

"At the first dawn," continued Hans, "the great men who are called
Amahagger rose and ate what was left over from the night before. Then
they gathered themselves together and went to the house. Here they found
a large chair, that seated with _rimpis_ in which the Baas Red-Beard
sits, and lashed two poles to the chair. Beneath the chair they tied
the garments and other things of the Lady Sad-Eyes which they made
Janee gather as Sad-Eyes directed her. This done, very gently they sat
Sad-Eyes herself in the chair, bowing while they made her fast. After
this eight of them set the poles upon their shoulders, and they all went
away at a trot, heading for the bush-veld, driving with them a herd of
goats which they had stolen from the farm, and making Janee run by the
chair. I saw everything, Baas, for they passed just beneath my tree.
Then I came to seek you, following the outward spoor of the waggons
which I could not have done well at night. That is all, Baas."

"Hans," I said, "you have been drinking and because of it the lady
Sad-Eyes is taken a prisoner by cannibals; for had you been awake and
watching, you might have seen them coming and saved her and the rest.
Still, afterwards you did well, and for the rest you must answer to
Heaven."

"I must tell your reverend father, the Predikant, Baas, that the white
master, Red-Beard, gave me the liquor and it is rude not to do as a
great white master does, and drink it up. I am sure he will understand,
Baas," said Hans abjectly.

I thought to myself that it was true and that the spear which Robertson
cast had fallen upon his own head, as the Zulus say, but I made no
answer, lacking time for argument.

"Did you say,"