performed his own funeral into the bargain--at
least, he must have, because there's no sign of him down there. Why--
what's the row?"

There was a curious, startled look upon the girl's face--hearing the
sound of their voices she had come forward to meet them. She was pale,
too, as from the effects of a fright.

"What scared you, dearest?" said Wyvern anxiously--he was at her side in
a moment. "Not another snake?"

"No. I believe it was a Kafir."

"A Kafir?" echoed Le Sage. "Hullo, Wyvern. Your snake-bitten chap has
not only performed his own funeral but he has already begun to walk."

"Come over to where I was sitting," said the girl. "I can show you
better from there."

"But hang it, Lalante, you're not the one to be scared by the sight of a
Kafir," said her father, incredulously.

"This one had an awful look," she answered, with a little shudder.
"Hardly human--almost like someone dead."

She had been leading the way--it was only a few yards--to where she had
been seated under the shade of some willows.

"Look," she said. "It was over that prickly pear stem. Something made
me look up and I saw a head--a fearful-looking black head, not like
anything in life. It was glaring at me with such an awful expression, I
wonder I didn't scream, but I believe I was afraid even to do that.
Then it sank down again and disappeared."

The point indicated might have been a couple of dozen yards distant
Wyvern, pressing her hand, felt that she was in a state of tremble.

"Come along, Wyvern. We'll look into this," said Le Sage irritably. He
was a man who hated mystery, and was incredulous as regarded this one.
"If there is any mad Kafir hanging about here a touch of stirrup iron'll
be the best remedy should he prove obstreperous." And so saying he went
to his horse's side and detached one of the stirrups. Now a stirrup
iron in the hands of one who knows how to use it, is a very formidable
weapon of offence or defence.

"But I'll go too," said the girl, quickly. "I'm dead off staying here
by myself after that experience."

"Quite sure it was an _experience_?" queried her father, somewhat
sourly.

But reaching the place she had pointed out, there was no sign of anybody
having stood there. Le Sage's first instinct was to examine the ground.
He looked up again, baffled.

"No trace of any spoor whatever," he said irritably. "No living being
could have stood there and left none--let alone coming here and