he faintest trace of him. His
disappearance, in fact, was as complete as that of that poor Mr
Hensley."

"Old Hensley hasn't turned up again, then?" I said.

"No. Mr Kendrew is getting more and more easy in his mind. He's a
shocking boy, you know, and says he's too honest to pretend to be sorry
if he comes into a fine farm to end his days on," she said, with a
little smile, that somehow seemed to cast something of a damper on the
delight of the present situation.

"Confound Kendrew," I thought to myself. "Who the deuce wants to talk
of Kendrew now?"

"Tell me, Mr Glanton," she went on, after a slight pause. "You got my
letter I know, because Falkner has told us how he got the one mother
wrote him. Did you think me very weak and foolish for allowing myself
to get frightened as I did?"

"You know I did not," I answered, with quite unnecessary vehemence.
"Why I was only too proud and flattered that you should have consulted
me at all. But, of course it was all somewhat mysterious. Is Ukozi
about here now?"

"We haven't seen him for some days. Do you know, I can't help
connecting his non-appearance with your return in some way. He must
have known you would soon be here. Father is quite irritable and angry
about it. He says the witch doctor promised to let him into all sorts
of things. Now he pronounces him an arrant humbug."

"That's the best sign of all," I said, "and I hope he'll continue of
that opinion. When elderly gentlemen take up fads bearing upon the
occult especially, why, it isn't good for them. You don't mind my
saying this?"

"Mind? Of course I don't mind. Why should I have bothered you with my
silly fears and misgivings--at a time too when you had so much else to
think about--if I were to take offence at what you said? And it seems
so safe now that you are near us again."

What was this? Again a sort of shadow seemed to come over our talk.
Was it only on account of some imaginary protection my presence might
afford that she had been so cordially and unfeignedly glad to welcome
me?

"I think you may make your mind quite easy now," I said. "This Ukozi
had some end of his own to serve, possibly that of stealing the dog,
which he knew he could trade for a good price in Zululand, and probably
did. I suppose Falkner gave you a full, true and particular account of
how we bested the precious specimen who claimed him."

She laughed.

"Oh, he's been bragging about that, and all you