d west and north. Everywhere appeared the
same bush-clad valleys and barren rises, miles upon miles of them. I
bethought me of the map that old Zikali had drawn in the ashes, and
remembered that it showed these valleys and rises and that beyond them
there should be a great swamp, and beyond the swamp a mountain. So it
seemed that we were on the right road to the home of his white Queen,
if such a person existed, or at any rate we were passing over country
similar to that which he had pictured or imagined.

But at this time I was not troubling my head about white queens. I was
thinking of poor Inez. That she was alive a few days before we knew from
the fragments of her dress. But where was she now? The spoor was utterly
lost on that stony ground, or if any traces of it remained a heavy
deluge of rain had washed them away. Even Hans had confessed himself
beaten.

I stared about me helplessly, and as I did so a flying ray of light
from the setting sun reflected downwards from a storm-cloud, fell upon a
white patch on the crest of one of the distant land-waves. It struck me
that probably limestone outcropped at this spot, as indeed proved to be
the case; also that such a patch of white would be a convenient guide
for any who were travelling across that sea of bush. Further, some
instinct within seemed to impel me to steer for it, although I had all
but made up my mind to go in a totally different direction many more
points to the east. It was almost as though a voice were calling to me
to take this path and no other. Doubtless this was an effect produced
by weariness and mental overstrain. Still, there it was, very real and
tangible, one that I did not attempt to combat.

So next morning at the dawn I headed north by west, laying my course for
that white patch and for the first time breaking the straight line of
our advance. Captain Robertson, whose temper had not been bettered
by prolonged and frightful anxiety, or I may add, by his unaccustomed
abstinence, asked me rather roughly why I was altering the course.

"Look here, Captain," I answered, "if we were at sea and you did
something of the sort, I should not put such a question to you, and if
by any chance I did, I should not expect you to answer. Well, by your
own wish I am in command here and I think that the same argument holds."

"Yes," he replied. "I suppose you have studied your chart, if there
is any of this God-forsaken country, and at any rate discipline is